A 

/ 



STUDY 



OF 



GOETHE'S FAUST 

l 



BY 

V 

RAY ELBING 




COLUMBUS, OHIO 
ADOLF HAAK, PUBLISHER 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1890 
BY ADOI.F HAAK 
In the Office of the librarian of Congress at Washington, D. 

All Rights Reserved 



TYPOGRAPHY BY THE COMPOSITE PRESS OF NEW \OR& 
125 WEST FORTIETH STREET 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 



Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the poet 
of Faust, was born in 1749 and died in 1832. 
His life began, and throughout was spent, under 
most favorable conditions and surroundings. 

The elder Goethe, a doctor of law and 
imperial councilor at Frankfort on the Main, 
was a man of culture, position and means. He 
provided for his son a thorough education. 
Through example and contact, he also gave to 
him that firmness of mind, which afterwards 
enabled the poet to pursue his literary career 
safely, through all the changing influences and 
events of a much agitated life. 

The mother, an accomplished, cheerful wo- 
man, aged but eighteen years at Wolfgang's 
birth, was most affectionately attached to her 
children, of whom besides Wolfgang there was 
a daughter, born a year later. These two, the 
mother reared through childhood with most 
loving care and devotion. Never, while so 
doing, she grew tired of supplying young 



2 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Wolfgang's demand for stories and anecdotes, 
from the rich resources of her memory and 
imagination. Thus she gave to him of her 
happy nature as well as the love of language, 
which was to prove so invaluable to him. 

Under such beneficent family influences, at 
a home from which every thing displeasing to 
eye and mind was carefully excluded, Goethe 
received his first education, with abundant time 
left for play and recreation, frequent opportu- 
nity to hear the best music, and with a constant 
view of the fine paintings and sculptures, 
which adorned the spacious rooms and halls of 
the parental house. 

With a preliminary education thus received, 
young Goethe first entered the university at 
Leipsic. Better prepared, he subsequently 
went to Strasburg, where in accordance with 
the wishes of his father, he took the university 
course of legal studies. After completion of 
these, and a subsequent attendance upon the 
sittings of the imperial courts at Wetzlar, also 
an extended vacation spent in journeys to the 
Rhine and through Switzerland, Goethe in 
1775 entered into the service of grand-duke 
Karl August of Saxe-Weimar. With the excep- 
tion of another journey to Switzerland, several 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 3 

extended sojourns in Italy and some shorter 
travels, Goetlie remained at the duke's court 
to the end of his life. In affairs of state as well 
as in matters of literature and art, he became 
the duke's trusted friend and adviser, and at 
the same time entered into close relation with 
the many distinguished men of letters, then 
assembled at, or living near, the duke's court. 

Within this wide and interesting sphere of 
outward life, and beside the practical work 
and duties there thrust upon him, Goethe soon 
chose, and to the last pursued, another, more 
congenial, a poetic-literary occupation. The 
time and energy, which he thus spent in lit- 
erary labor, may be estimated by the numerous 
classical works, which he has left us. Every 
period of his life, commencing even w T ith early 
youth, abounds in literary productions. 

Faust, the greatest of Goethe's literary 
achievements, is the result, not of a year or a few 
years, but of nearly the whole of the poet's 
long life and most persevering and energetic 
thought. Begun in 1773, it was not finished 
until 183 1, only one year before the poet's 
death. The success of this master-piece of 
poetic thought and art, has been in accordance 
with the labor, time and genius bestowed on its 



4 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

production. It has entered into the thought 
of all the educated, having been translated into 
every civilized language, into the English lang- 
uage alone, perhaps as often as forty times. 

Bearing the marks of such extraordinary 
causes and effects, Goethe's Faust will ever 
command the attention and study of the intel- 
lectual, everywhere. And deep and compre- 
hensive as its underlying thought is, its study 
will always be a task in which some intelligent 
assistance must, at least to every beginner, be 
very welcome. Indeed, it may be said that 
the great and popular appreciation of this sub- 
ject and the esthetic pleasure and philosophic 
culture, derived from it in Germany, are in a 
large measure due to the diligent and often 
very eloquent discussion and interpretation, 
which it has there received in books, schools, 
lectures and upon the stage. 

In acknowledgment of an early inspiration 
and information, by this writer derived from 
such sources, and as a return for the benefit, 
thus once enjoyed by him in the land of Faust, 
he offers this volume to the English reader, as 
a study of the first part of Goethe's Faust, 
reserving a similar volume concerning the 
second part, for future publication. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 5 

In the plan of the present volume, after a 
short sketch of the historical back-ground and 
the outlines of the Faust-legend, and an account 
of Goethe's intellectual relations to the same, 
the subject will be presented by way of 
translation of the main part of the original, 
interspersed with narrative explanation. The 
translation thus offered, has been prepared in 
accordance with what in theory, as well as by 
practical observation of the comparative force 
and effect of poetic translations, especially 
Faust-translations, would appear to be their 
highest requirement. Such translations, in 
order to preserve the spirit and poetic effect 
of the original, must not only preserve its 
material thought, but must present it in its 
exact rhythmical form. The numerous English 
translations of Goethe's Faust, all working the 
same thought into the same material of speech, 
are readily distinguished by the extent to 
which they recognize and follow this rule of 
poetic translations. The distinctive qualities 
of translations thus arising, are not only 
apparent to the critic, but are immediately, 
though unconsciously, felt and appreciated 
even by the most uncritical reader. A student, 
whose mind is more directly accessible, may 



6 a study of goethe's eaust. 

derive from inferior, even from mere prose-trans- 
lations of verse, much benefit and pleasure 
which a reader, whose mind is best approach- 
able through the sense, can derive only from a 
superior translation in verse. Such a trans- 
lation, by its poetic thought and form, speaks 
eloquently to the mind and sense alike. Thus, 
reason already would show, how necessary it 
must be, in a translation of Goethe's Faust, to 
adhere strictly to the original form. More 
forcibly however, this necessity would be urged 
by comparison of the poetic effect of the original 
with that of its translations. Yet, the merits 
of none of the former translations shall here 
be questioned. Only, in justice to the original, 
and in view of the claim often made for trans- 
lations, that they are in the original measure, 
it should be noted, that Goethe's Faust in its 
exact poetic form, had never yet been rendered 
in the English language. "And not until it 
should have been rendered thus, would the aim 
be reached, which a writer on the subject and 
a translator of it describes when he says: 
"The desire of the English people to naturalize 
the great German poet, is unabated after forty 
efforts. It will never cease, till it is satisfied. 
And it will never be satisfied, till, under some 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 7 

happy conjunction of the planets, an Bnglish 
translator appears, who has converted the 
German master-piece into an Bnglish poem." 

Goethe's Faust presents a great variety of 
rhythm. Where an even, regular measure is 
required, the poet uses it with great strictness, 
as in the song of the elves, at the beginning of 
the second part of the work, or in the chant of 
the archangels, which may be found further 
on in this volume. Yet, besides various forms 
of regular measure, thus occurring at proper 
places, we find elsewhere in the same work, 
measures most irregular, ever changing as it 
were. For instance, when Faust, previous to 
his surrender to the evil power, in the frenzy 
of despair, utters his imprecation on all the 
joys of the world, the spirits of sensuousness 
are brought into play. In varying thought 
and form, their song most forcibly appeals to 
Faust's mind and sense. Then Mephistopheles 
continues, using similar means for the same 
end. He begins with light insinuating, pro- 
ceeds to weighty convincing, then again returns 
to the former quality and manner of speech. 

The poetic form of Goethe's Faust, regular 
or irregular as it may be, is everywhere pe- 
culiarly adapted to situation, thought and 



8 a study of goethe's faust. 

purpose. And if we consider, that Goethe was 
one of the greatest masters of poetic form, we 
should be willing to believe, that the irregu- 
larities and frequent changes of rhythm in his 
grandest work are not the result of chance or 
mistake, but of poetic necessity and purpose, 
well weighed and determined by the poet. It 
cannot be sufficient therefore, in a translation 
of Goethe's Faust, to adopt merely the measure 
most frequently occurring in the original, or 
to follow it only where it is regular, and intro- 
duce arbitrary changes where it is irregular. 
This method, generally adopted in translations 
which purport to be in the original measure, 
does violence to the subject, and is even less 
defensible than an unpretentious prose-trans- 
lation or a translation which, by way of 
doubtful experiment or as a supposed improve- 
ment, chooses some other, quite different 
measure of its own. 



ThK historical back-ground and the outlines 
of the Faust-legend and Goethe's intellectual 
relations to its subject-matter may be described 
in a few of their striking points. The thought 
of western Europe, during the sixteenth 
century, had taken a speculative turn. The 
active minds of that locality and time were all 
more or less occupied with the problems of life 
and the mysteries of the universe. Distin- 
guished scholars, scientists and reformers, 
among them Luther, Copernicus and Gallilei, 
arose and shed rays of their bright and 
brilliant thought into the intellectual world. 
With all the light of such thought, this fragment 
of human civilization was not free from very 
dark shades and most sadly contrasting re- 
verses. The flashes of new thought had ap- 
peared too suddenly, their effect had been too 
powerful, the new prospects too boundless, the 
visions too dazzling. An irritation of the 
minds was the result. Mathematicians, 
chemists and physicians soon grew weary of 
the slow progress of their study and work and 
let their fancies run in advance of knowledge, 
experiment and thought. They became astrol- 
ogers, alchemists, miraculous doctors and 
adventurers of all sorts, who in the mist of 



/ 



IO A STUDY OE GOETHE'S FAUST. 

superstition vainly struggled toward the light 
of a hoped-for revelation. What the levers of 
science would not wrest from nature, spirits 
were called on to reveal to the mind. In this 
strange civilization the Faust-legend origi- 
nated, and from its twilight it has ever since 
stood out as an object of thought for sub- 
sequent generations. 

Faust, as one of the versions of the legend 
goes, was born at Rhoda in Anhalt. He 
afterwards studied in Ingolstadt and Witten- 
berg. While pursuing his studies, he fell 
heir to a large estate. This he soon squan- 
dered. Then he began to devote himself to 
the magic art, through which he hoped to gain 
extraordinary knowledge as well as the means 
of continuing the thoughtless course of his 
life. Mephistopheles, an agent of the evil 
power, presented himself and agreed to serve 
him twenty-four years. At the end of this 
time, Faust was to be at the mercy of the evil 
power. The proposition was accepted. During 
the term of the compact, the study of the 
elements and the enjoyment of life gaily inter- 
changed. Notwithstanding occasional better 
resolutions on the part of Faust, his companion 
managed to keep him from the right path, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. II 

using flattery or threat, as circumstances 
would require. When the term of the compact 
neared its end Faust repented in vain, and 
heartlessly mocked by Mephistopheles, he was 
made to feel his misery most deeply. Upon 
the last night a fearful storm visited the 
doctor's house, and the next morning his 
mangled remains were found scattered over 
house and yard. Possessed of an immoderate 
desire for knowledge and pleasure, and will- 
fully def}dng the solid method of acquiring 
a reasonable share of either, the hero of this 
legend was thus doomed to a miserable life and 
a cruel and abrupt death. 

The popular shows and plays which repre- 
sented the subject of the Faust-legend probably 
fascinated Goethe at an early age and were 
first to inspire him for his future great work. 
The closing scenes of these shows, which depict 
the doctor's last struggle and terrible end, are 
of such dramatic force, that they must have 
made a deep impression on the young poet's 
mind. Moreover, there was a close relation 
and resemblance, in many respects, between the 
time reflected in the Faust-legend and the poet's 
own time, which made this subject particularly 
interesting. The high but undefined ambition, 



12 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

the unmeasured desire for knowledge and 
pleasure, the contempt of tlie slow and sober 
method of study and work, all these character- 
istic traits of the Faust-generation and the 
intellectual peculiarities and genial faults of 
the poet's literary and social surroundings 
during the " storm and stress period'' bore the 
marks of near relationship. 

Thus Goethe found in the Faust-legend a 
convenient poetic subject. He took hold of it 
at the age of twenty-four, and as of one mold, 
within a few years cast the most beautiful parts 
of the earliest fragment of his work. This 
fragment was published in 1791. The poet 
subsequently added to the already great work 
throughout his long poetic, philosophic, active 
and eventful life, until at last it became a most 
comprehensive allegoric drama, touching upon 
and embracing the whole struggle of human 
genius, from the errors of the sensuous world, 
through esthetic culture, to the recognition of 
its moral aim. With such a vast program, 
grandly carried out, Goethe's Faust, in its 
intellectual problem as well as in its dramatic 
scenes and incidents, presents a work very 
different and independent from the old legend 
and its earlier dramatizations. 



Goethe's Faust, in its published form, con- 
tains : 

First, the dedication, a touching lyric picture 
of the aged poet's surroundings, and the senti- 
ments with which he looks back to earlier 
periods of his life and great work. 

Second, the prelude on the stage, a humorous 
dramatic argument in justification of the wide 
scope and manifold character of the poem. 

Third, the prologue in heaven, a dramatic 
exposition of the problem, which underlies the 
drama. 

Fourth, the tragedy as follows : 

It is night. The moon shines brightly 
through the window of a narrow high-vaulted 
room, filled with quaint furniture, books, 
manuscripts, scientific and medical apparatus, 
the possessions of a learned scholar. This is 
the study of Doctor Faust who, thought-worn 
and restless, is seated at a desk near the window, 
and in soliloquy sums up the results of his 
past life, a life of hard study and labor. These 
results he finds unsatisfactory, and he is utterly 
discouraged. To add to his trouble, most bitter 
regret torments him, because for the sake of 
his illusive intellectual struggle, he has lived 
in deprivation of all the real possessions of the 



i4 a study of goethe's faust. 

earth, and foregone the enjoyment of life's 
gayest pleasures. Such is the burden of his 
thought. Then he looks up. 
Faust. 

Oh, that thou full-orbed moon, didst see 

The last of this, my misery ! 

Whom I so oft, at midnight here, 

Awake, have seen again appear. 

Then, over papers bent, and books, 

I saw thy mournful, friendly looks. 

Oh, could I on the mountain height 

Now wander in thy lovely light, 

Near mountain-caverns with spirits soar, 

And float in thy twilight, the meadows o ' er ! 

Woe ! Am I in this dungeon yet, 
Accursed walls, begrimed and wet, 
Where even heaven's light can pass 
But scarce, through painted window-glass ! 
Here, buried under books on which 
The worms subsist, which dust defiles, 
Which upward to the high ceiling reach, 
With smoke-stained papers thrown in piles, 
And glasses, boxes, 'tween them hurled, — 
This, this is thy world! Ay, this is a world! 

And dost thou ask, why thus thy heart 
With anxious feelings is oppressed, 
Why pangs, inexplicable, thwart 



A STUDY OP GOETHE'S FAUST. 1 5 

Life's every action in thy breast? 
Instead of nature's living sphere, 
Where God created man to dwell, 
The bones of beasts and dead men here 
Surround thee with their mouldy smell. 

In vain Faust resolves now through magic l 
through the magic of genius, through intuition 
and metaphysical speculation to obtain the 
pleasure of thought and knowledge, which he 
hopes may yet recompense him for his past 
struggle and misery. With more and sharper 
disappointment than ever before experienced, 
he must pay for the short pleasure of this new 
enthusiasm. 

In dramatic allegory the poet pictures the 
flight of man's soul into the ethereal regions 
of metaphysical speculation and its inevitable 
collapse and fall. The spirit of the earth, the 
philosophy of mankind, assumes poetic, living 
form, gives personal utterance, and forcibly 
and with crushing effect reminds Faust of the 
limited nature of human thought. The astro- 
logic imagery of the old magician furnishes a 
convenient form of expression for the occasion. 

Faust. ( Taking up the book of the magician^) 
Flee hence, to the far and open landi 
And in this great, mysterious book 



1 6 a study oe goethe's eaust. 

Of Nostradamus' very hand, 
For all-sufficient guidance look ! 
It teaches thee the planets' course; 
And, nature to thy sight unfurled, 
Thy soul then rises to its source, 
Communing with the spirit- world. 

{He opens the book and sees the sign of Ma- 
crocosm, the symbol of the universe?) 
Ah, what a rapture flows from what I see, 
Thus at a sudden, now, through all my senses ! 
A holy bliss of life, quite young and free, 
In every vein and nerve again commences. 
Was it a god who wrote these signs so clear, 
Which now, the inner tumult stilling, 
The troubled heart with gladness filling 
By some mysterious working here 
Show nature all unveiled, its forces all revealing? 
A light within me burns anew ; 
These features pure, to sight restore me ; 
In them I see creative nature lie before me 
The sage's word now first proves true : 
"The world of spirits closes never; 
Thy sense is closed, thy heart is dead. 
Go forth and bathe, with new endeavor, 
The earthly breast in morning-red!" 

{He examines the sign more closely?} 
How fully all its parts agree, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 1 7 

All live and work together free ! 
How heavenly forces ever downward bending, 
The golden vessels lifting, tending, 
On wings sweet-scented with blessing, 
From heaven throughout the earth are pressing, 
Harmonious all, the whole possessing ! 
How grand a sight ! Yet, nothing but a sight ! 
Where, boundless nature, seize thee in thy flight? 
Ye breasts, where ye? Ye springs of life's 
great river, 

Toward which the earth and the heaven e'er turn, 

For which our withered bosoms yearn, 

Ye flow, ye nurse, and must I languish ever? 

(He turns the leaves of the book impatiently, 
and finds the sign of the Earth-spirit?) 
How different is the power of this sign ! 
Thou, Spirit of the Barth, art nigher. 
Already now, my strength feels higher. 
I glow as with a new-made wine. 
I dare the world to meet, my heart grows braver 
The earthly woe to bear, and fortunes favor, 
To face the storms, and dangers graver, 
Amid the crash of ship-wreck not to waver. 

(It grows dark; Faust looks up.) 
A cloud draws over me — 
The moon conceals her light — 
The lamp grows dimmer. — 



1 8 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

( Vapors and flashes of red light above?) 
Thick vapors fall. Red rays are darting 
Around my head. — There comes 
A horror from the vault above 
And seizes me. 

I feel thou floatst around me, Spirit High! 
Unveil thyself! 

Oh, what a rending in my heart! 
A newer sensation 
Keeps all my senses in vibration. 
I feel my heart now wholly to thee given. 
Thou must, e'en though thy sight I could not 
live in ! 

{He seizes the book and mysteriously pro- 
nounces the sign of the Spirit. A red flame 
flashes up; the Spirit appears in the flamed) 

Spirit. 
Who calls me? 

Faust. 

Woe! I bear thee not! 

Spirit. 

Thou breathest prayers to draw me nearer. 
My own voice wilt thou hear, my own face wilt 

thou see. 
Thy mighty yearning bendeth me. 
Here am I ! What a piteous terror, 
Thee more than human, grasps ? Where's the 

aspiring thought ? 



a study oe goethe's faust. 19 

Where is the breast, which in itself a world 

had wrought 
And held and cherished, which with trembling 

pleasure 

Upheaved, with] Spirits dared itself to measure ? 
Where art thou, Faust, whose voice to me has 
rung, 

Who with his powers all, to me has clung ? 
Is this thou, who but in my presence taken, 
In all the depths of life is shaken, 
A timid, writhing, shrinking worm? 
Faust. 

Shall I, thee flaming creature fear ? 
'T is I, I'm Faust, I am thy peer ! 
Spirit. 

In tides of life and in actions' storm, 

An eternal wave, 

To and fro I flee. 

Now birth, now grave, 

An infinite sea, 

A change e'er weaving, 

A life-glow heaving, 

I work, at the thundering loom of the time, 
The living attire of the Being Sublime. 
Faust. 

Who thus around the world dost flow, 
How, active Spirit, near I feel to thee ! 



20 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Spirit. 

Thou 'rt like the Spirit, thou dost know, \ 

Not me. {Spirit disappears^) 

Faust. {Breaking down.) 
Not thee?— 
Whom then ? 

Thus thrown from the dizzy height of spe- 
culation, Faust is near the verge of utter, final 
despair. But happily Wagner, the doctor's 
assistant, enters, and intercepts and disperses 
the crowd of dangerous visions. In the 
conversation with Wagner which takes place, 
and which for the present brings back Faust's 
courage, the poet shows the amiable modesty 
and honesty which dwell in Faust's genial 
greatness, contrasted with the narrow, con- 
ceited, self-satisfied and self-admiring medioc- 
rity, personified in Wagner. 

{A knock at the door.) 

Faust. 

Oh death! Most surely that 's my clerk,! know. 
With all my joys, what dire collision ! 
The living fullness of my vision, 
The soulless sneak destroys it so. 

( Wagner in sleeping-gown and night-cap, en- 
ters, carrying a lamp. Faust turns to him 
reluctantly}) 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 21 
Wagner. 

Pray, pardon ! I heard your declamation. 
No doubt, you read some classic tragedy. 
About this art, I'd have some information ; 
For 't is so useful now, I see. 
Alas, imprisoned so fore'er in our study, 
Save holidays we ne'er see any body, 
And few, but at a distance then. 
How, by persuasion shall we govern men ? 
Faust. 

You speak in vain, unless you speak your 
feeling, 

Unless, from your own soul it start, 
With genuine, strong delight appealing 
To every hearer's soul and heart. 
You sit forever mixing hashes, 
Cooking the scraps of others' feast, 
And, from your little heap of ashes, 
Blow forth a scanty flame, at least. 
On children's and on fools' admiration, 
You may, if 't suits your pleasure, feed; 
But ne'er you '11 fill the heart with inspiration, 
Unless from the heart your speech proceed. 
Wagner. 

'T is through delivery, speakers most succeed, 
And that 's the very thing I badly need. 
Faust. 

To seek for honest gain, go hence ! 



22 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Be not a loud and chiming fool ! 
Plain understanding, common sense 
Speak forth without much art and school. 
And if you say but what you 're wanting, 
You need not after words be hunting. 
But ay, your speeches with their glittering fill, 
Which all, with scraps of human knowledge 
bristle, 

Are unrefreshing as the winds, which chill 
And autumn-like, through withered foliage 
whistle. 

Are parchment-scrolls the sacred fount of 
learning, 

Whereof a draught forever stills your thirst ? 
No recreation ends your yearning, 
Unless it from the soul arises first. 
Wagner. 

But pardon, it is a mighty pleasure, 
The spirit of the times to weigh and measure, 
To see how formerly the wise have felt and 
thought, 

And how superbly far we in the end have got. 
Faust. 

Oh yes, up to the farthest star ! 
But, worthy friend, the former ages are 
A book 'neath seven seals' protection. 
What you the ages' spirit deem, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 23 

The spirit of yourself to be, would seem, 
In which is seen the times' reflection. 
Wagner. 

But then the world, man's heart and mind to 
know, 

Is every body's longing and intention. 
Faust. 

To know ! Indeed you call it so ! 
But who, the child's true name dares always 
mention ? 

The few, whose seeing minds some truths espied, 
But whose confiding hearts knew no concealing, 
Who, to the rabble gave their inmost thought 

and feeling, 
At all the times were burned or crucified. 
But pray you, friend, it is late in the night ; 
Our conversation must be ended. 
Wagner. 

I should have longer waked with much delight, 
To carry on this talk, profound and splendid. 
To-morrow though, in Kaster-day vacation, 
I 'd beg some further information. 
I 've long devoted all my energies to learning; 
And much I know, yet all to know, I 'm yearning. 

( Wagner withdraws. Night is wearing toward 
morning}) 

Faust. 

How he so fondly dwells in hope, benighted, 



24 A STUDY OP GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Who clings to worthless stuff forevermore, 
Who digs with greed for precious ore, 
And when he finds an earth- worm, feels delighted! 
Dares such a voice here speak to me, 
Where all around me flowed the light of spirit! 
And yet, for once my thanks to thee, 
Of all the earthly sons the least of merit ! 
Thou torest and savedst me from that desperate 
state, 

Which, all my senses came so near destroying. 
That vision, oh, it was so giant-great ; 
It made me seem with dwarfs in smallness vying. 
A thunder-word has swept me from thy sphere. 
With Spirit Thee, I dare myself not measure ! 
Though power I Ve had to draw thee at my 
pleasure, 

I did not have the power to hold thee here. 
Oh, in the bliss of that emotion 
I felt myself so small, so great. 
Thou cast me back upon the ocean 
Of man's uncertain, cruel fate. 
Who tells me what to yield and offer? 
Must I that impulse still obey? 
Our greatest deeds, alas, as much as what we 
suffer, 

Impede us on life's onward way. 
That which true life inspires, the noblest pure 
devotion 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 25 

Grows cold, and soon is lost in life's commotion. 
When fancy once would boldly onward fly, 
And faith, the infinite to reach would cherish, 
The smallest space her wants now satisfy, 
When in the whirl of time ,her fortunes perish. 
Then care, within the heart most deeply burrows, 
And causes countless secret sorrows, 
Keeps moving restlessly, disturbs all joy and 
peace, 

In changing masks, her torments e'er increase, 
As property, as home, as wife, as child, appearing, 
As poison, dagger, flood or fire. 
What never strikes, wields terrors dire, 
And what we never lose, its loss we -re always 
fearing. 

The Spirit, I 'm not like! That truth was felt 
too deep. 

The worm, I 'm like, which in the dust must 
creep. 

Which, as he feeds and lives on earth's cold lap, 
Is crushed and buried by the wanderer's step. 
Is it not dust, that makes this narrow room 
With hundred shelves around me, grimy, 
The rubbish, trifles and the gloom, 
Which to this world of moths still tie me? 
Here, shall I find what I desire? 
Shall I perhaps in thousand books see 't stated 



26 a study oe Goethe's faust. 

That life was always misery entire, 
That ever few, as happy could be rated ? 

{He turns to a skull on the shelf.) 
Thou hollow skull, thy grin, what does it say, 
But that thy brain like mine once vainly hoping, 
The light of day had sought, while in the twi- 
light gray, 

With love for truth most pitifully groping ! 

Thus Faust has returned to the dangerous 
play with his thought and feeling. This time 
it carries him to the most melancholy reflections 
and at last to the desperate resolution, by vol- 
untary death to seek alleviation for his trouble 
and suffering. A flask on the shelf attracts his 
attention : 

But why 's mine eye to yonder spot attracted? 
Is yonder phial such a magnet to my sight? 
Whence, all at once, this lovely light contracted 
As when the moon-beams gather in the woods at 
night? 

I greet thee, flask, that holdst the rarest potion, 
And which I now take down with deep devotion ! 
In thee I worship human wit and skill. 

essence thou, of sweetest soothing powers, 
Thou extract of the finest deadly flowers, 
Thy duty to thy master now fulfill ! 

1 gaze on thee, the suffering is diminished ; 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 27 

I grasp thee, and the strife seems finished. 
The spirit's flood-tide gently ebbs away. 
The open sea now draws me near and nearer; 
Beneath me shining, lies the water's mirror. 
To newer shores now calls a newer day. 
A flaming chariot floats on airy pinions 
Near me; I feel I 'm ready for the strife, 
On lofty paths through ether's high dominions, 
To reach new spheres of purer, active life. 
Such high existence, such delight elysian, 
Thou now but worm, shouldst thou deserve to 
own? 

Ay, do but turn with manly, bold decision 
Thy back upon earth's lovely sun ; 
Ay, do but dare to burst those gates asunder, 
Where all would like to steal away at last! 
Now is the time, by deeds the proof to render, 
That manly worth is not by Spirit-height sur- 
passed ; 

Before that gloomy cavern not to waver, 
Wherein a cruel fantasy herself ensnares, 
To reach that passage, to endeavor, 
Around whose narrow mouth the fire eternal 
flares, 

To take this step with calm, serene decision, 
Although 't might lead thee to the nothing of 
a vision. 



28 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

After all, it is not utter despair, not the long- 
ing for eternal rest, that allures Faust, but rather 
the hope and prospect of a newer, better life. He 
yearns for new spheres of pure activity. So the 
sad impulse which originally leads to the des- 
perate resolution, disappears in the last, decisive 
moment and leaves a glimmering of hope that 
the crisis may yet be averted. And indeed, morn- 
ing dawns. From the near cathedral the sweet 
songs of Easter-morn are heard, and awaken in 
Faust's suffering soul the holiest reminiscences 
of long-forgotten, youthful bliss. He had put 
the poison to his lips. Now he halts : 

What solemn sound, what radiant tone compels 
Thus from my lips, this draught with magic 
power ? 

Announce ye deep-toned, early-pealing bells, 
Already Easter-morn's first holy hour? 
Ye choirs, have ye begun the glad, consoling 
song, 

Which round the grave's dark night from lips 

of angels rung, 
A covenant new, proclaimed in power ? 
Why tones from heaven, so sweet and strong, 
Me, here in dust forlorn, be seeking? 
And yet, from youth familiar with your speaking, 
E'en now, for life again you make me long. 



A STUDY OE GOETHE'S FAUST. 29 

Once, heaven's love a burning kiss would tlirow 
Upon my brow in earnest Sabbath-stillness. 
Then rang the church-bell forth with sweet, 

presaging fullness, 
And prayer was all with fervent joy aglow. 
A wondrous, sweet, mysterious longing 
Made me to meadows and to forests flee, 
And, thousand tears my eyes then thronging, 
I felt a world arise in me. 

This song the youthful sports proclaimed, to 

all revealing 
Free joy of spring's great holiday. 
The reminiscence turns me now with child-like 

feeling 

From the last, most earnest step, away. 

Oh, sound ye on, ye sweetest songs of heaven ! 

My tears break forth, to earth again I 'm given ! 

A similar tender, poetic feeling inspires 
Faust's words in the next scene. He has re- 
covered from the dangerous malady of his soul, 
and now goes joyfully among the merry crowd 
of people, who seek pleasure outside the 
city-gate, on Easter-Sunday. His heart flows 
over, with poetic praise of the new life, which 
seems to stir every body and all nature, as it 
stirs him. In contrast with the pedantic 
prudery of Wagner who accompanies him, but 



30 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

shuns the common crowd, Faust mingles freely 
and cheerfully with the people who in their 
thoughtless but harmless ways, indulge in the 
pleasures of spring's great holiday. 
Faust. 

Released of their ice are brooks and rivers 

All, through spring's enlivening, radiant glance. 

The hopes of green-clad dales advance. 

Old winter, weak, now retreats and shivers, 

Seeking the mountain- wastes, but perchance 

Will send, as fleeing he further yields, 

Sleet-ice from among his icy followers, 

In showers over the green of the fields. 

Ah, but the sun allows no faint colors : 

Everywhere, germs he stirs into growing, 

Hues of life on all nature bestowing. 

Only flowers are not yet spread; 

He takes the people's dresses instead. 

Look from this height whereon we're standing, 

To the town and yonder landing : 

From the hollow, gloomy doors, 

See, how motley a multitude pours. 

Forth they come from far and nigh, 

The day of the Risen Lord to enjoy ; 

For they have also just arisen, 

From cottages low, and bondage distressing, 

From trades' restraint and labor's prison, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 3 1 

From tlie weight of houses oppressing, 
From the narrow streets and from alleys, 
From the churches' most reverend night, 
They have come to the day's broad light. 
Yonder see, how the multitude sallies 
Through the fields and the gardens, remote; 
How the streams throughout these valleys 
Bear forth so many a dallying boat. 
Near unto sinking over-crowded, 
See yonder skiff now take the stream. 
Even the hill-paths, dust-beclouded, 
Dotted with gay-colored dresses seem. 
The village-throng now surges near me ; 
The crowd's true heavens here appear me. 
Both old and young contented cheer. 
A man with men, I'm happy here. 
Wagner. 

With Doctor, you, to walk around here, 

Yields profit and is honor great ; 

But for myself alone could not be found here, 

Since all that 's coarse and rude I shun and hate. 

This ten-pin clatter, fiddling, howling, 

Are sounds I '11 scorn my whole life long. 

They yell as though the fiend was 'mongst them 

prowling ; 
And call it pleasure, call it song. 

( The villagers under the linden-tree dance and 
sing. A trowd gathers around Faust.) 



32 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

A Peasant. 
Well, Doctor it is kind of you, 
A learned man, so little proud, 
On such a day as this to come 
Out here, among this merry crowd* 
Indeed 't is well for you to share 
With us a happy day like this, 
Since formerly on gloomy days 
You Ve always firmly stood with us. 
There 's many a one around here yet, 
Whom from the deadly fever's blast, 
Your father saved, when by his skill, 
The pestilence he stayed at last. 
You too, though but a youth, would go 
With him to every sick-bed then. 
And many a corpse they took away; 
But you, all well, came out again. 

Faust. 

To him above devoutly bend, 

Who teaches help and help will send! 

{Faust and Wagner pass on.) 

Wagner. 

What feelings , worthy man , thy heart must sway, 
This show of popular esteem to witness. 
Oh, happy he, whose gifts and fitness, 
With such advantages will pay. 
Faust. 

A few more steps, to yonder stone let us ascend; 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S EAlTST. 33 

There be we seated, from our ramble resting ! 
There, often hours in thinking would I spend, 
With fasting and with prayer my patience testing. 
And rich in hope, with faith still blessed, 
With tears and sighs, hands-wringing even, 
I Ve thought, the end of death and pest 
Perhaps at last to wrest from heaven. 
The crowds applause like scorn I now must 
shun. 

Oh,couldst thou read within my bosom's mazes ? 
How little, father and son 
Have been deserving of such praises. 
My father, honest but of sombre mood. 
Did over nature's holy signs and mystic orbit 
With honesty, but in a manner morbid 
And whimsical and painful, brood. 
With none but experts then surrounded, 
The alchemistic room he sought, 
There endless recipes compounded, 
With many noxious matters fraught. 
This was the medicine; our patients soon expired. 
How few survived no one inquired. 
Thus with our medical, infernal allies, 
We have among these hills and valleys 
Oft ravaged worse than any pest. 
Myself, the deadly drug to thousands have been 
giving; 



34 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

They died away ; I must be living 
To hear the brazen murderers blessed. 
Wagner. 

How could you be by tliat offended? 
Does not an honest man his part, 
If he exactly plies the art, 
Which from his ancestors to him descended ? 
Dost thou as youth thy father's word respect, 
Thou 'It wish his knowledge to inherit. 
Dost thou as man a growth of truth effect, 
Then can thy son attain to higher merit. 
Faust. 

Oh, happy he, who still can hope 

To rise again, from error's depths returning. 

With real needs, our knowledge does not cope; 

Things useless constitute our learning. 

Yet let us not the blessing of this hour 

By sad reflections thus embitter ; 

But see how, bathed in sun-set's fiery shower, 

The green-embordered huts now glitter. 

The sun moves on ; the day is lived and o'er. 

He yonder speeds his course, new life inspiring. 

Oh, could on wings from here I upward soar, 

I 'd follow, follow him untiring. 

I 'd see the quiet world beneath, 

In evening-red forever glowing, 

All mountain-tops on fire, the valleys all in peace, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 35 

The silver brook to golden rivers flowing. 
The nigged mount, with all its giant height, 
Could not obstruct the path of such a motion ; 
But with its tepid, shining bays, the ocean 
Would open to my raptured sight. 
But now the god from me away seems sinking. 
Again, that impulse wings my flight. 
I hasten forth, eternal sun-light drinking, 
All day, before me; all behind me, night ; 
Above, the heaven firm ; beneath, the waters 
waving. 

How fair a dream ! But now the sun has fled. 
Oh, that no earthly wing can e'er be sped 
To aid the spirit's high, ethereal craving. 
The impulse, though, each heart is born in, 
With feelings onward, upward, e'er to long, 
When over us, the azure blue forlorn in, 
The lark sends forth a warbling song, 
When over dizzy, pine-clad mountains, 
With outspread wings the eagles roam, 
And over lands and lakes and fountains, 
The cranes are steering toward home. 
Wagner. 

Myself have oft had hours, when whims per- 
plexed me, 
But such an impulse never vexed me. 
One soon grows tired, on woods and fields to look. 



36 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

I 'd ne'er begrudge the birds their flight and 
leisure. 

Far better carries us the mental pleasure 
From page to page, from book to book. 
Then, winter-nights delight and cheer our soul ; 
Warm, blissful life to all our limbs extendeth. 
And, . ah, unfold we e'en an ancient parch- 
ment-scroll, 
Then all the heaven at once to us descendeth. 
Faust. 

Of but one instinct is thy heart possessed ; 
To know the other, learn it never. 
Two souls alas, do dwell within my breast; 
And each itself will from the other sever. 
One, holds in love's impetuous desires 
Unto the world itself, with organs clutching ; 
One, powerfully from the dust aspires, 
On nobler sires' dominions touching. 
Oh, are there spirits in the air, 
'Tween earth and sky their gentle powers 
wielding, 

Float downward from your golden sphere, and 
bear 

Me on to scenes new life and pleasure yielding. 
Wagner. 

Do not call down the hosts, so sadly known, 
Which streaming through the air, destruction 

bearing, 



a study of goethe's faust. 37 

Are busy thousandfold, in every zone 
The dangers for our race preparing. 
On mischief bent, they lend a willing ear, 
Obey with ease, because they like decoying. 
They act as messengers from heaven's own 
sphere, 

And lisp like angels, while but lying. 
But let us go ! 'T is getting toward night ; 
The air is damp and chilly quite. 

Faust returns to his study. Peaceful sur- 
roundings now impress and inspire his soul. 
Words of great beauty flow from his lips. 

Faust. 

Behind me left I fields and meadows, 
Enwrapped in night, sublime and deep, 
Whose holy and foreboding shadows, 
Arouse our better soul from sleep. 
Allayed is now impassioned striving, 
With all its fierce, tumultuous din; 
The love of man is felt reviving ; 
The love of God now stirs within. 
When in our study's still seclusion^ 
The lamp again so friendly burns, 
Then it is dawning in our bosom, 
Our heart to know itself then learns ; 
Our reason then resumes her speakings 
And hope's sweet blossoms all return ; 



38 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

The living streams of thought then seeking, 
The founts of life to reach, we yearn. 

Faust's thoughts thus quietly gather. It is 
getting light within him. His hope returns. 
His reason again speaks. Yet, with all this 
happy change of mind and heart, the magic 
snares of intellectual speculation are still about 
him. Prompted however by the holy senti- 
ments which now fill his soul, and in accordance 
with the religious, poetic reaction which set in 
under the influence of the sweet Baster-music 
and the sacred reminiscences of youth which 
it awakened, Faust's speculative thought now 
turns to the Scriptures for revelation. And he 
comes upon that difficult passage: "In the be- 
ginning was the Word." After several unsuccess- 
ful attempts at a more satisfactory translation, 
he interprets it thus: "In the beginning was the 
Act." And the moment of this characteristic 
confession of faith in the act, in action, in activity, 
the poet chooses to introduce Mephistopheles, 
and to inaugurate the real plot of the drama. 

The nature of this plot, and the great problem 
which underlies the whole drama, are indicated 
in "The Prologue in Heaven," one of the in- 
troductory scenes already mentioned, to which 
we may now give a few moments' attention. 



A STUDY 0# GOfiTHE^S FAtlST. 39 

The general plan of this scene, as an 
interview between the Lord andMephistopheles 
was suggested by the "Book of Job." The pe- 
culiar characteristics of Mephistopheles, the 
representative of the evil principle, as sketched 
in the Prologue, and subsequently in the drama 
further developed, are however an entirely 
original poetic production of Goethe. 

With short but clear and steady sight, 
Mephistopheles clings to the observation of the 
narrow, separate existence of man. Unable to 
see in the great life of the human race anything 
beyond the selfish,' apparently fruitless, indi- 
vidual struggle, and not comprehending the 
law, which rules within the seeming chaos of 
human life, Mephistopheles sees in it nothing 
but contradictions, absurd contrasts and mutual 
negations. Thus he finds things on earth 
pretty bad. He sees only how men torment 
themselves, and how they ever languish in 
sensual slavery with a vague and futile craving 
for rational freedom. 

This scene in heaven beginswith the grand 
song of the archangels, describing the universe 
and the earth : 

The sun resounds in ancient fashion " / . 
With brother-spheres in rival song; 



40 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

And in the old, ordained procession, 
With march of thunder leads the throng. 
Such sights are angels ' recreation, 
Though ne'er their cause they understand. 
As on the day of their creation, 
These works remain unbounded, grand. 

With wondrous swiftness widely ranging, 
The gorgeous earth keeps up her flight. 
Clear paradisian light is changing 
With deep and dark and dreadful night. 
With surging wave, the ocean splashing 
Against the rocky mount is hurled; 
And mount and sea are onward dashing, 
With the forever-moving world. 

And rival storms, each other driving 
From sea to land, from land to sea, 
Thus form, in their infuriate striving, 
A chain of deepest energy. 
And lightning's fierce and swiftest runner 
Precedes upon the thunder's way. 
But Lord, thy messengers e'er honor 
The quiet movement of thy day. 

Such sights are angels' recreation, 
Though ne'er their cause they understand. 
As on the day of their creation, 
These works remain unbounded, grand. 

Mephistopheles. 
Of sun and worlds, I have no information ; 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 4 1 

I see but men, engaged in self-vexation. 

The little god of earth will never change his way, 

And is to-day as queer as on his primal day. 

A little better he 'd be faring, 

Were not this spark of heaven's light within 

him flaring. 
He calls it reason, uses it 
More beastly but to be, than beast is yet. 
He seems so like — (I hope Your Grace will 

pardon) — 

A long-legged ^rass-hopper in the garden, 
That always flies, and flying springs, 
And in the grass the same old ditty sings. 
But stayed he only in the grass forever! 
Of every trash, his nose must sniff the flavor. 
The Lord. 

Hast nothing else indeed, to mention? 
Demand complaints thy whole attention? 
Findst, on the earth, thou nothing ever right ? 

Mephistopheles. 
No Sir, I find it there as ever, wretched quite. 
I pity men. With all the evils that perplex them, 
Myself do hardly like to further vex them. 

The Lord. 
Dost thou know Faust? 

Mephistopheles. 

The Doctor? 



42 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

The Lord. 

Ay, thou 'rt right. 

riephistopheles. 

He serves you in a most peculiar fashion : 
No earthly food contents his foolish passion. 
His spirit's ferment rises ever. 
Half conscious of his mad desire, the best 
Of heaven's stars to own he will endeavor, 
And of the earth the greatest joys request. 
But all that 's near and far will never 
At all content his deeply shaken breast. 

Mephistopheles' speech about earthly mat- 
ters, far from being malicious, rather bears the 
stamp of coarse frankness. His narrow, one- 
sided criticism is tempered with much good- 
natured humor. On the whole, the Prologue 
represents human imperfection, mischief and 
error, such as personified in Mephistopheles, 
by no means as something contrary, foreign or 
hostile to man, but rather as a peculiar, innate 
and necessary quality of things human and 
earthly. Without these ingredients of unrest, 
man would soon love inactivity ; with them, it 
is true he struggles and strays, but after all 
finds what is best and right. 

The Lord. 

Man's active nature soon would ail from re- 
laxation ; 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 43 

He soon would learn to love unbounded rest. 
Such evil comrade then befits him best, 
As ever stirs and works by mean vexation. 

To demonstrate this great truth, Mephis- 
topheles is given permission to tempt Faust. 

The Lord. 
I leave it all to thy discretion, 
To draw this spirit from his primal source. 
And canst thou get of him possession, 
To lead him on thy downward course. 
But stand ashamed, if thou at last must say: 
A man who 's good, with impulse dark however, 
Is always conscious of the true, right way. 

The purpose and plan of the drama from the 
appearance of Mephistopheles to the end are 
thus sufficiently indicated. To emphasize the 
representative nature and character of Mephisto- 
pheles, which places him beyond the narrow 
sphere of individual appearance, the poet 
employs for his introduction in the drama 
certain forms of mythology and allegory. 
When Faust returns from his walk on 
Easter-Sunday, the magic poodle, one of the 
legendary forms of the appearance of the evil 
spirit, draws the snares around his steps. And 
when, soon afterwards, Mephistopheles evolves 
in human form, he expressly announces his 
representative nature. 



44 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

The first meeting of Faust and Mephisto- 
pheles occurs shortly after the meditations at 
which we last overheard the former in his 
study. There is a strange visitor. 

Faust. 

Who art thou, tell ! 
Mephistopheles. 

Part , am I of that force, 
Which, always bent on ill, does naught but 
good of course. 
Faust. 

What sense do such mysterious words imply? 
flephistopheles. 

The spirit that denies am I ; 
And this of right, for every thing brought forth 
Should perish, that is all 't is worth. 
Were naught begot, it would be better. 
Thus all the wicked, sinful matter, 
All things on ill and ruin bent, 
Are just my very element. 
Faust. 

Thou callst thyself a part, and yet lookst whole 
to me. 
riephistopheles. 
Ay, modest truth I speak to thee. 
Let man, this little world of foolishness, 
Be boastful of whole perfectness. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 45 

I 'm part of that great part, which was the 

whole at first, 
Of that great dark which, from its womb, the 

light made burst, 
The haughty light, which now to mother Night 
Within the space disputes her ancient right. 
Yet ne'er it will succeed : with all its radiant 

wings, 

To bodies fettered, still it clings ; 
It flows from bodies, makes the bodies fair ; 
A body stops its prying glances. 
And thus I hope, as time advances, 
'T will with the bodies be destroyed fore'er. 
Faustc 

Ah, now I see thy worthy mission : 
Thou canst not cause complete perdition, 
Hence pliest thy trade on smaller scale. 

Mephistopheles. 
But truly, even there I often fail. 
What 'gainst the naught in spite is hurled, 
This something of a clumsy world, 
With all the trouble I have taken, 
Has never in the least been shaken. 
'Gainst fire and earthquake, storm and flood, 
Both sea and land have with defiance stood. 
And this confounded stuff, the brood of man 
and beast, 



46 a study of goethe's faust. 

It seems by nothing to be worried. 
How many I 've already buried, 
Yet ne'er the circulation of the blood has ceased. 
And so 't goes on; it sets one almost crazy: 
From waters dull, from vapors hazy, 
From earth, warm, dry or cold and wet, 
Uncounted germs are generated. 
If not to me the flames were consecrated, 
Then had I nothing separate. 
Faust. 

Thus 'gainst the active, e'er benignly 
Creative power, thou dost thrust 
Thy cold, infernal fist, malignly 
But vainly clinching as it must. 
Of something else to think, endeavor, 
Thou Chaos' most fantastic son. 
riephistopheles. > 

We '11 look at it with better favor, 
When more we speak of it, anon. 

Such is the evil power. Such is Mephisto- 
pheles the tempter, who will seize Faust by his 
sensual nature and reduce him to moral un- 
consciousness. First, he will try to strengthen 
or to stimulate Faust's deceptive reliance upon 
his power to resist temptation. The soothing 
song of the sensuous spirits, under whose 
influence Faust falls asleep, physically and 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 47 

morally asleep, represents the evil forces of 
the outward world, in their gentle, seductive 
appeal to similar forces in the human heart. 
In the artistic construction of this song, we find 
the gay pictures, which were produced in 
Faust's waking soul during the Baster-Sunday 
walk, beautifully woven into a magic net of 
dreams. 
Spirits. 

Vanish, ye gloomy 
Arches above him ! 
Charming blue ether, 
Friendly look*hither, 
Smiling on him! 
Oh, let the lowering 
Clouds melt asunder, 
Star-sparklets showering, 
Sun-light more tender, 
Shining on him ! 
Children of spirit, 
Beauty and merit, 
Gracefully bending, 
Float and pass over. 
Love never ending, 
Follows them over. 
Ornaments glittering, 
Draperies fluttering, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Lands over scattering, 
Deck every bower, 
Where in delighted 
Tender devotion 
Lovers are plighted. 
Bower on bower! 
Foliage in motion ! 
Grapes' brilliant shower, 
Toward the rending 
Presses descending, 
Flows into rivers. 
Wines most delicious 
Flow over precious 
Stones to abysses. 
Leaving the highlands, 
Flowing and winding, 
Spread they 'round islands, 
Bending and binding 
'Round the green mountain . 
And at the fountain, 
Birds now drink pleasure, 
Now to the azure, 
Toward the sparkling 
Islands advancing, 
Which on the darkling 
Billows are dancing, 
Where in clear voices^ 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 49 

Heaven rejoices. 
Downward now glancing, 
Look at the dancing. 
Meadows they cover, 
Roaming all over, 
Some of them scaling 
Monntains and forelands, 
Some of them sailing, 
Passing the shorelands ; 
All ever waving, 
life-pleasure craving, 
Far onward roving, 
Toward the loving 
Stars of delight. 
Mephistopheles. 
Your voices sweet, a soothing chant have 
sounded ; 

He sleeps. Well done, fair Spirits, ye! 
Now with the loveliest dreams be he sur- 
rounded, 
Immerged in fair illusions' sea ! 

Through the sensuous dream, Faust is pre- 
pared for his compact with Mephistopheles, the 
compact of his submission to the meaner im- 
pulses of the heart. It is true, Faust soon 
awakes with much of his old despondence still 
obstructing his surrender to Mephistopheles, 



5<3 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Then, the Spirits are brought into play again, 
and Faust at last submits. He determines to 
subdue his better instincts. In this condition, 
he asks from his evil companion food that never 
satisfies, excitement for the sake of excitement, 
never lasting but ever new. 

The scene is in Faust's study. Faust is 
there for the last time previous to his trans- 
gression. Indeed, we shall not see him there 
again until his intellectual and moral regen- 
eration has begun in earnest, late in the second 
part of the drama, when he returns with new 
and better devotion to prepare for his final and 
lasting good deeds. 

Mephistopheles enters with mysterious form- 
ality, again indicating the peculiar significance 
of his character. Here he represents Faust's 
sensuous nature. He has come to take Faust 
on a trip of wild excitement and pleasure. But 
as said before, Faust is not ready at first ; he is 
still doubting and despondent. Some argu- 
ment is necessary. 

Faust. 

In every dress, I still shall feel the pain, 
Which all the earthly pleasure stifles. 
I am too old to play with trifles, 
Too young, all wishes to restrain. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 5 1 

What can this world afford, what favor ? 

"Abstain" thou shalt, abstain forever!" 

That is the sad, eternal song 

Which to our ears forever rings, 

Which, all our dreary life-time long, 

Each hour to us with hoarseness sings. 

With terror only, I awake at morn, 

My eyes with bitter tears nigh filling, 

To see the day, which in its course will scorn 

Each single wish of mine, not one fulfilling, 

Which e'en the hope of every joy 

With willful doubt and fear will banish, 

With life's grimaces, will destroy 

My fairest thoughts or make them vanish. 

And oh, when night sinks down, I must again 

Lie on my couch, where terrors haunt me. 

There, too, nor peace nor rest can win ; 

The wildest dreams will rise to daunt me. 

The God who in my bosom dwells, 

Can stir me, all my soul upheaving. 

He who in me the highest powers compels, 

In outward life is naught achieving. 

Thus, my existence is a grievous weight; 

For death I fondly long, and life I hate. 

Mephistopheles. 
And yet, death never is a wholly welcome mate. 

Faust. 

Oh, that I at the mighty Spirit's sight, 



52 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Had fallen dead with rapt emotion ! 
riephistopheles. 

Yet, some one in that memorable night 
Has failed to drink a certain potion. 
Faust. 

To play the spy, it seems, is thy delight. 

Mephistopheles. 
Omniscient, am I not; but much I know, you 
're right. 

Faust. 

If once, from that most dreadful torment 
By sweetest tones I was retrieved, 
If childlike feelings, in me dormant, 
By youth's fond echoes were deceived, 
Now curse I all that here entices 
And binds the soul with magic spell, 
The flattering and false devices, 
Which hold it to this dreary cell. 
Accursed be first the high opinion, 
With which the mind itself surrounds, 
Accursed the sensuous dominion, 
Which with the dazzling sights abounds ! 
Accursed those false, deceitful matters, 
The dreams of deeds forever famed ! 
Accursed what as possession flatters, 
And wife, child, home or servant named! 
Accursed be mammon, when with treasure 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Our lust for daring deeds lie sways, 
Or when for idleness and pleasure 
Soft pillows on our couch lie lays! 
Cursed be the grapes' sweet, balmy juices! 
Cursed what we love's best favor call! 
Cursed idle hope and faith's abuses ; 
And cursed be patience more than all! 
Spirits. {Invisible)) 

Woe! Woe! 

With powerful hand, 

Thou hast destroyed 

The beautiful world. 

It falls, it is hurled; 

A half-god struck it, 't is breaking. 

We 're taking 

The ruins to voids eternal, 

With aching 

Hearts for all the beauty perished. 

Rarest thou, 

Of men most cherished, 

Fairest now 

Build it, and truest! 

With better spirit build it within ! 

Life anew begin, 

Life brighter, 

With senses lighter! 

Then, ring the newest 

Harmonies in. 



54 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Mephistopheles. 

These, my wee Spirits 
Show their merits. 
Hear them stir, in knowing fashion, 
Action and passion! 
In the world's strife, 
From this lonely life 
Of body's and mind's stagnation, 
Calls their invitation. 
Oh, quit at last this play with sorrow, 
Which like a vulture eats thy very heart ! 
From worst associates e'en, the feeling borrow, 
That thou, as man, of men art part! 
Howe'er, it would not do 
To cast thee among the rabble. 
Nor with great ones would I dabble. 
But wilt thou with me pursue 
Thy career through a life of pleasure, 
I gladly forego all leisure, 
Hence to be thy dependent. 
I am thy attendant. 
And if thy dost crave, 
Servant I '11 be, will be thy slave. 
Faust. 

What service in return am I to render? 
Mephistopheles. 

Abundant time we '11 have that to discuss. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST* 55 

Faust. 

Oh no, thy like act but from selfishness. 
Mere kindness never makes you tender 
A helping hand in man's distress. 
Let all thy terms be plainly said! 
A servant such as thee I aways dread. 

riephistopheles. 
To serve thee here, I give thee leave to bind me ; 
Repose and peace I '11 at thy bidding shun. 
When thou in yonder world shalt find me, 
The same by thee to me be done ! 

Faust. 

The other world but little matters. 
If once thou breakst this world in shatters, 
The other then may be begun. 
This earth the spring of all my joy keeps 
flowing ; 

This sun his rays upon my woe sheds glowing. 

If once these two I 'm forced foregoing, 

Then may, what will and can, be done ! 

No further shall I ask or wonder, 

If 'yond the grave they hate and love, 

If in those spheres far-distant, yonder, 

There 's a Below and an Above. 

Mephistopheles. 
With views like those, I should advise thee 
To join with me; and soon it shall surprise thee, 



56 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

The joys to see, my arts afford. 
What man ne'er saw, I shall to thee accord. 
Faust. 

Canst thou, poor devil, grant a favor ? 
Was e'er a human mind with its sublime en- 
deavor 

Conceived by thee in all the ages past ? 
But hast thou food which never satiates, hast 
Thou gold whose gleam, that ne'er does last, 
Quicksilver-like flows from the hand and 's 
gone, 

A play which no one ever won, 

A girl who from my breast will coy 

With stolen, wanton glance and win my 

neighbor, 
And honor's star whose dazzling joy 
Like meteor fades, to mock our labor, 
Show me the fruit that, ere 't is plucked, does rot, 
And trees which every day new leaves recover. 

Mephistopheles. 
Demands like those dismay me not. 
Such costly treasures can I offer. 
And trust, the time is quickly coming on, 
When we shall love to feast on joy with leisure. 

Faust. 

If e'er I lie content, upon the couch of pleasure, 
Then let me be at once undone ! 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 57 

If thou with flattery thus canst blind me, 
That I, self-pleased, may view the past, 
If with enjoyment thou canst bind me, 
That be of all my days the last ! 
Be this our wager ! 
Mephistopheles. 

Done ! 

Faust. 

The die is cast. 
Shall I entreat the moment ever; 
"Oh tarry, pray, thou art so fair!" 
Then, from thy bonds release me never! 
Then, take me down to death's despair! 
Then, sound the knell, my doom be spoken ! 
Then, art thou of thy duties free. 
The clock may stop, its hand be broken ; 
Then, time fore'er be past for me! 

Mephistopheles. 
Mark well thy words, especially the latter! 

Faust. 

Thou begst what I already gave, 
I did not speak, my vanity to flatter. 
Whate'er I do, I am a slave ; 
If thine or whose, what does it matter ? 

Mephistopheles. 
Well then, to give our compact binding force, 
A line or two, you '11 grant of course. 



58 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Faust. 

Some writing e'en, thou era vest! Oil, how 
absurd! 

Hast thou ne'er known a man, ne'er known 

man's honest word? 
And is it not enough, that what I Ve said 
Should seal the doom of all my days forever? 
The world with all its streams is onward sped ; 
And I need bonds, no one can sever! 
But blest, whose word of honest faith is part! 
Bach sacrifice will find him ready. 
And this deceit is planted in our heart; 
We hold to it with firmness, steady: 
A paper written, printed or engrossed with art, 
It is a specter, feared by every body. 
The word dies on the quill of feather; 
And hence the power of wax and leather. 
What, Evil Spirit, shall it be? 
Brass, marble, paper, choose it free ! 
Shall pen or graver work the consummation? 
I grant, whate'er thou judgest meet. 

Mephistopheles. 
But why thy eloquence with heat 
Thus carry to exaggeration? 
A scrap of paper 's all I claim; 
A single drop of blood will do to sign thy name. 

Faust. 

If that will do a pact to frame, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 59 

I * 11 grant thy folly's demonstration, 
riephistopheles. 

Blood is a most peculiar juice. 
Faust. 

Thou needst not fear I '11 in this task forsake 
thee. 

My powers' whole extent and use 
Are just the promise which I make thee. 
I 've heretofore presumed too much. 
To thy estate I do belong. 
The lofty Spirit spurned my touch, 
And nature from my grasp is wrung. 
The thread of thought is rent asunder, 
I loathe all knowledge, and all surrender. 
Let 's, in the depth of the sensuous world, 
Our burning and raging passions quiet! 
Let 's reach the magic veil, untie it, 
And see its wonders all unfurled ! 
Let us thus plunge in the whirl of the world, 
In time's events together hurled, 
Then may enjoyment and pain, 
Success and labor vain, 
Interchange and vary as they can ! 
Life restless and active proves the man. 
I take the vow of passion's joy and pain's delight, 
Of love-born hate and of enraptured spite. 
My mind with thirst for truth no more shall 
languish, 



60 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

But on its human heritage shall enter. 
And all that stirs mankind, all joy and anguish, 
Henceforth shall sway my bosom's inmost 
center, 

My mind the highest and the deepest grasping, 
Their weal their woe within my heart enclasping. 
And thus myself to all the other selves expanded, 
Shall in the end with them be wrecked and 
stranded. 

rtephistopheles. 
Oh trust to one, who for so many ages 
These tough repasts has had to chew : 
From birth to bier, nor fool nor sages 
Did ever yet digest this ancient stew. 
Trust one of us, this whole creation 
For no one but a god was planned. 
He dwells in everlasting lumination; 
Us caused he in the deepest dark to land, 
And day with night is all you stand. 

Faust. 

But what am I, if after all my heart 
That toward which it ever presses, 
The crown of man, not once possesses ? 

riephistopheles. 
Thou 'rt after all but what thou art, 
Put wigs upon thy head of locks aud curls 
uncounted, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 6 1 

And let thy feet on yard-high socks be mounted, 
Thou still remainst but what thou art. 
Faust. 

I see in vain I 've grasped and saved the treasure, 
E'er stored and hidden in the human mind ; 
And when I in the end sit down in leisure, 
No flowing fount of strength within me find. 
I am not, by a hair's breadth, higher; 
Am, to the infinite, no nigher. 
riephistopheles. 

Thou lookst upon these things precisely 

As they are often looked upon. 

But we must manage them more nicely, 

Before the joys of life are gone. 

Of course, it may be said correctly, 

Head, heart and hand and feet are thine. 

But that which I enjoy directly, 

Is 't therefore any less mine? 

If for six stallions I can pay, 

They 're mine : On swiftest carriage mounted, 

I ride along, a man in fine array, 

As were my legs by dozens counted. 

Hence then, this plodding thought renounce, 

And plunge amid the world at once! 

I tell thee, friend, a man who '11 speculate, 

Is like a beast, that by the evil 

On barren heath is led about with whirling gait, 



62 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

While all around lies pasture green and level. 
Faust. 

What shall we do? 
riephistopheles. 

Well , to begin with, I presume 
We '11 have to leave this torture-room. 
Upon this wretched life cease poring! 
Thyself and youngsters here quit boring! 
There 's one out-doors now, promenading. 
Faust. 

I 'm sure, I cannot see him yet. 
Mephistopheles. 

He waits so long, 't is most degrading ; * 

He must not go uncomforted. 

Thy gown and cap I '11 quickly slide in : 

{He puts them on.) 
And for the rest my wit confide in ! 
A quarter of an hour I '11 let him sip ; 
And meanwhile thou makest ready for our 
merry trip ! 

{Faust withdraws. Mephistopheles continues 
as follows:) 

Ay, reason, knowledge scorn! Ay, do detest 
The highest powers by man possessed! 
While dazzling shows and magic blind thee, 
Just let the Lying-Spirit bind thee ! 
I win thee thus, an easy prize. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 63 

Him has his fate with such a spirit mated 
As, unrestrained, e'er on and onward flies, 
And on its course precipitated, 
O'erleaps the earthly, real joys. 
Through life I '11 drag him, dissipated, 
Through flat and mean triviality. 
He '11 writhe and struggle unabated, 
And for his insatiety 

Shall food and drink on greedy lips be grated ; 
Yet aught refreshing he in vain shall claim. 
And were his life not unto evil dedicated, 
He 'd have to perish all the same. 

{Mephistopheles sits down at FausCs desk. A 
student with an album under his arm, enters 
and bows respectfully. Mephistopheles bows in 
return?) 

Student. 

I 've here arrived but recently, 
And come now most respectfully 
To consult a man of reputation, 
By all beheld with veneration. 

Mephistopheles. 
Your politeness gives me much delight. 
You see I 'm a man like others quite. 
Have you applied yet anywhere? 

Student. 

I pray you, take me in your care ! 



64 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

I come with the best of hope, forsooth, 
Somewhat of gold, but tender youth. 
It is true, my mother would hardly spare me. 
For the highest learning, please, prepare me ! 

Mephistopheles. 
This is the place for you, I 'd say. 

Student. 

I wished already, I were away. 

Within these walls and halls, affrighted, 

I cannot say I feel delighted. 

The place so narrow seems to me. 

There is no verdure, not a tree. 

The sight of lecture-rooms and benches 

My thought and sight and hearing wrenches. 

Mephistopheles. 
Oh, that 's a habit, soon we '11 break. 
Just as a child will not at first 
Its mother's breast quite freely take, 
But soon will yearn for it, and thirst. 
So will you at the breast of science 
With every day find more reliance. 

Student. 

I will embrace it with the greatest pleasure. 
But.- tell me, how can I acquire the treasure ? 

Mephistopheles. 
Just say, no further time to lose, 
Which of the professions do you choose? 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 65 
Student. 

I wish to gain the highest learning. 
To know and make my own, I 'm yearning, 
Whate'er there is of natnre, heaven 
And earth, within the mind's embrace. 

Mephistopheles. 
Yon 're jnst npon its very trace, 
But not to distractions must be given ! 

Student. 

My heart and soul I promise you ; 
But much would like, if 't suits your pleasure, 
A little freedom, and pastime too, 
For summer-holidays and leisure. 
Mephistopheles. 

Use well your time, I earnestly beseech you ! 
Strict order, time to win will teach you. 
And hence remember what I tell : 
First, study logic through and well. 
Thereby your mind will soon be trained, 
By torturing irons racked and strained, 
That it henceforth, with more cautious pace, 
Proceed upon reflection's trace, 
Not here and there and everywhere 
Go 'stray alike a night-fire's glare. 
Your lesson then for days will run, 
That, what by single strokes you 've done 
Ere this, just like eating and drinking free, 



66 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Goes by paces now: "One, two, three." 
'T is with the mental factory though, 
Just as with a weaver's work, you know : 
A thousand threads, one , treadle plies, 
The shuttles e'er hither and thither flitting, 
The threads, unseen, together knitting, 
One stroke striking a thousand ties. 
Then the philosopher steps in, 
And he proves, it so must have been: 
The first was so, the second so, 
And hence the third and fourth are st>. 
If not the first and second were, 
No third and fourth then could be there. 
All students will swear on this most gladly; 
Weavers to be, succeed they though badly. 
Whoever aught living would know, and tell its 
merit, 

First will deprive it of its spirit; 
Then has he the parts all within his hand, 
Alas, without intelligent band. 
Student. 

Cannot indeed, quite comprehend you. 

riephistopheles. 
Science will soon assistance lend you. 
When you learn to reduce all masses. 
And to divide them into their classes. 

Student. 

It all does make me feel so dumb 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 67 

As though in my head did a mill-wheel hum. 
Hephistopheles. 

But now, the next important matter : 

You must of metaphysics learn to chatter. 

There see that you most deeply know, 

What in the human mind won't go ! 

For what goes in or not, there '11 be 

Some pompous word to serve you free. 

And know, that for the first half year 

You very punctual must appear! 

Five hours each day to study lend, 

And when the school-bell strikes, attend! 

Then always thoroughly prepare ; 

By heart your lessons learn, with care; 

And see, that the professor says 

No Words or things, which from the book digress! 

Exert yourself in writing most, 

As if taught by the Holy Ghost! 

Student. 
Indeed, 't is hardly necessary 
To mention that; I know its use. 
What we, to black on white, reduce, 
We safely home with us can carry. 

Mephistopheles. 

But what profession do you choose? 
Student. 

My choice to tell, I could not jurisprudence 
name you. 



68 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Mephistopheles. 
For that indeed I can bnt scarcely blame you. 
I know, how they this learned trade abuse. 
All rights and laws, fore'er descending 
Like an eternal dread disease, 
Through generations only slowly mending, 
Proceed with most tormenting ease. 
Hence reason turns to nonsense, blessing 
Becomes a curse. Oh, woe to thee 
Who late wast born ! The right that bore us free, 
Must yield to statutes most oppressing. 

Student. 

My loathing grows by what you say ; 
He 's blest, to whom you show the way. 
I 'd almost theology like to study. 

Mephistopheles. 
I hope, I Ve not mislead you already. 
There surely 't will be best, to listen but to one, 
And what he says, to swear upon. 
Do always hold to words, securely! 
They are the gates, that open surely 
The temple of all certainty. 

Student. 

But then, some sense in every word should be. 

riephistopheles. 
Howe'er, 't must not be found by over-anxious 
hunting. 



a study of goethe's faust. 69 

For just where sense is badly wanting, 
A word turns up most opportune and free. 
With words you can debate forever, 
Of words, build up a system clever, 
Ay, words you can so well believe in, 
In every word, the very letter even. 
Student. 

Forbear! I trouble you with many questions. 
But I confess, although with fear, 
On medicine I still would hear 
A few concise and apt suggestions, 
riephistopheles. 

Of medicine, you '11 grasp the spirit nicely: 
The world and every thing you study, still 
To let things go at last, precisely 
As nature will. 

In vain you rove through all the scientific space; 
For every body learns but what he can. 
Yet he who grasps the moment's grace ? 
He is the real man. 

You are quite handsome, I should say. 
Nor boldness are you lacking any. 
And with your self-reliant way, 
You '11 have the confidence of many. 
First, learn to treat the ills of woman : 
Her "Ahs" and "Ohs," just as of old 
So thousandfold, 



70 A STUDY OF GOETHE^S FAUST. 

Have all one simple cure in common. 
And if you half discreetly deal, 
They soon will be all at your will. 
Student. 

Ah well, that 's better, now the where and how 
I see. 

Mephistopheles. 
Ay gray, my friend, is all the theory, 
But green, life's precious tree, I swear. 

Student. 

I feel as though it all a dream but were. 
Might I some other time repeat my visit, 
And such a learned chat with you solicit? 

Mephistopheles. 
I 'mat your service any day. 

Student. 
B'en now I cannot go away, 
But first must hand my album, you '11 excuse me ! 
One single line, please, don't refuse me! 

Mephistopheles. 
Most surely not. 

(He writes and returns the album?) 

Student. [Reading?) 
Britis sicut deus, scientes bonum et malum. 
(He closes the book reverently and withdraws?) 

riephistopheles. 
Just keep that ancient proverb for your 
edification I 



a study oe goethe's faust. 71 

Your likeness unto God shall fill you with 
mucli consternation. 
Faust, in tlie meantime, lias made ready for 
tlie trip, on wliicli Mephistopheles will lead 
Mm through the world of pleasure. The two 
are next seen in Auerbach's cellar. This rep- 
resents the first digression of Faust, as he is 
led by Mephistopheles on the downward road. 
The scene was suggested by the Faust-legend 
as well as perhaps by reminiscences of the 
poet's own student-life. And then, Faust flee- 
ing from his study and books with a yearning 
for excitement, was but too apt, at least tempo- 
rarily and for an experiment, to go near the 
life of the lower academical circles, where he 
could find the simplest, coarsest and most 
common form of unintellectual pastime. Auer- 
bach's cellar is the noted students* resort in 
Leipsic, where historic wall-paintings of scenes 
from Doctor Faust's life, dating back to the 
sixteenth century, may still be seen. Thither, 
we are transferred at the present turn of the 
drama. Seated around a table are a number 
of the devotees of folly, such as Goethe may 
have met during his student-life, and who must 
have incurred the full measure of his contempt. 
True to life, he makes them appear with their 



72 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

peculiar language, boasting, jesting and full 
of noisiness. Their company does not agree 
with Faust. Indeed, during the whole scene 
he has nothing to say but "Fair greetings" 
and "I 'd now desire to leave.'' Mephisto- 
pheles, on the other hand, seems quite at home 
here. He shows his most affable qualities, as 
he does wherever folly and absurdity hold sway. 

Faust turns from this initiative scene of 
rudeness and insipidity, strengthened rather 
than weakened in his intellectual position. But 
presently we see him in more dangerous sur- 
roundings, in the "Witch's Kitchen." The 
various phantasms of this locality, represent 
the thoughtless pastimes of sensuous life, with 
which Mephistopheles sees fit to bring Faust 
into contact, before he ventures to attack the 
very stronghold of his moral nature. Here is 
a carnival of worldly folly, bewildering and 
confounding the senses. The witch's apes, in 
their chatter about money, play and gain, about 
the hollow but glittering world, about crowns 
and the sweat and blood of nations, represent 
the superficial thought of the world. Faust 
can find no pleasure in this. But turning from 
this uncongenial crowd, he is drawn toward 
the magic mirror, wherein he sees the picture 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 73 

of a beautiful woman. This at once exerts an 
irresistibly fascinating power over trim, thereby 
indicating, that he has come near a source of 
greatest sensuous dangers. 

Thus we have reached the point of the drama, 
where Mephistopheles will employ his most ef- 
fective means for the enslavement of Faust's 
moral will. We have come to the Margaret- 
episode, the tragedy of woman within the trag- 
edy of man. 

Faust sees Margaret for the first time as she 
is coming from church. Charmed with her 
beauty and innocence, he feels at once im- 
pelled to speak to her: 

Faust. 

My fair young lady, am I free, 
Thus to offer my arm and company ? 

riargaret. 
I 'm neither lady, nor am fair; 
To reach my home unattended, dare. 

{She passes on.) 

Faust. 

By heaven, I 'd say, this child is fair; 

The like I Ve never seen, I swear! 

She is so pure, and modest too; 

A little flippant, it is true. 

Her rosy lips, her cheeks' soft rays 



74 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

I '11 never forget in all my days. 
How she lier eyes cast down from me, 
B'er graven in my heart shall be. 
And how she sharply turned away, 
Quite made my soul with rapture sway. 

Nor has this first meeting been without effect 
upon Margaret, as her speech betrays, when 
we find her in her room alone, soon after. 

Margaret. 
I 'd give just aught, if I could say, 
Who was that gentleman to-day. 
He looked so gallant, 't seemed to me; 
And is of noble family. 

That much could I tell by his looks and bearing. 
Nor had he otherwise been so daring. 

A little later in the same room, Margaret 
steps to the window, opens it and says : 

It is so close, so sultry here ; 
And yet, 't is not very warm, out there e 
I know not why, but feel so queer; 
Wished mother came, I do declare. 
I feel a shudder to me cling; 
I 'm such a foolish, timid thing. 

Mephistopheles in the meantime, at the 
request of Faust, has procured a case of jewels, 
and in the temporary absence of Margaret from 
her room, has placed it in her press. Margaret, 



A STUDY OP GOETHE'S FAUST. 75 

now stepping to the press, discovers the 
strange object. 
Margaret. 

What casket 's this, and what a pretty lid! 

I locked the press, I 'm sure I did. 

Who brought it here? 'T is strange! What 

may in it be hid? 
Perhaps 't was left here as a pledge, 
And mother made a loan thereon. 
A key is fastened to the edge ; 
I think, I '11 open it. 'T is done! ] 
What is this ! Jewels new and bright ! 
So much splendor, ere this I Ve never known. 
Such ornaments, the noblest lady might 
On festal days be proud to own. 
Whose may these treasures be, I wonder? 
Wished, I but owned the necklace, yonder. 

(She puts it on and steps before the mirror.) 
It makes one look quite different. 
Ah, youth and beauty, what are ye ! 
You 're well enough, all right may be 
But 's all an empty compliment ; 
They praise you, half from forbearance. 
For gold but yearn, 
Toward gold but turn 
All things. Alas, we poor ones! 

Even Margaret's mother does not know, 



76 a study of goethe's faust. 

where these jewels have come from. It might 
be wrong to keep them. So she gives them to 
the church. To allay Margaret's grief, Mephis- 
topheles again secretly supplies a new set. He 
also devises a plan for a meeting. Margaret's 
neighbor and friend, Martha Schwertlein, has 
not heard from her sea-faring husband for 
some time. She is longing for some news, that 
might establish the fact of his death. These 
circumstances suggest to Mephistopheles a 
convenient way into Martha's confidence, with 
whose assistance the arrangements for a meet- 
ing of Faust and Margaret are easily made. The 
preliminary meeting occurs in Martha's house. 
Martha. 

God may pardon my husband dear : 
He did not right to leave me here. 
All at once, far away he 'd gone, 
And wretched, left I 'm here alone. 
Surely I grieved him ne'er unduly ; 
Did ah, God knows, but love him truly. 

{She weeps.) 
Perhaps he 's dead. Ah me, how sad ! 
If but a proof of his death I had ! 

Margaret. 

{Entering with a jewel-case in her hands}) 
O Martha dear, with pleasure trembling, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST, 77 

I find a case the first resembling, 

Of ebony, there in my press, 

And things in it so bright and rare, 

Mnch richer than the others were. 

Oh, just look here ! Oh, please look now ! 

riartha. {Putting the jewels on Margaret?} 
Thou happy little creature, thou! 

Margaret. 

Who may have brought these trinkets here, I 
wonder ! 

There 's something in 't, that makes me ponder. 
(A knock?) 

Oh heaven, if that my mother be, what then ? 

Martha. {Peeping through the blind?) 
'T is some strange gentleman. — Come in! 

Mephistopheles. {Entering?) 
I am bold, entering thus your garden. 
Beg the good ladies, to kindly pardon. 

{Seeing Margaret^ he steps respectfully back?) 
Wish to ask for Mrs. Schwertlein's dwelling. 

JTlartha. 

'T is here. What is it? Please, be telling! 

Flephistopheles. {Aside to Martha?) 
To know you thus far, at present will do. 
You Ve quite a fine lady with you. 
Excuse my freedom ! If you 're at leisure 
Afterwhile, I '11 return with pleasure. 



78 a study of goethe's faust. 

Martha. {A loud to Margaret^ 
The gentleman, O child but see, 
Is taking for a lady thee! 

riargaret. 

I -m young and poor and unrefined; 
The gentleman is but too kind. 
None of these jewels are my own. 

Mephistopheles. 
Oh, it is not the jewels alone. 
A piercing look is yours, a noble way. 
How glad am I, that I may stay ! 

Martha. 

But now your errand, let me hear! 

flephistopheles. 
I wished 't was happier news for your ear; 
But hope you '11 forbear its sad repeating: 
Your husband 's dead, and sends a greeting. 

riartha. 

Is dead ? The faithful heart is gone ? 
My husband 's dead ! Oh, then I 'm done. 
Margaret. 

Martha dear, do not despair ! 
Mephistopheles. 

Then hear the mournful news I bear ! 
flargaret. 

1 J & rather never love, oh never ; 

Such a bitter loss would grieve me forever. 



a study of goethe's faust. 79 

Mephistopheles. 

Joy with grief, grief with joy are varied. 
Martha. 

His life's sad end relate to me. 
flephistopheles. 

In Padna he 's dnly buried, 
Right next beside Saint Anthony, 
In earth far-famed and consecrated, ) 
To rest eternal dedicated, 
flartha. 

Have you no further information ? 
Hephistopheles. 

Yes, one request yet, great and grave : 
You should three hundred masses buy for his 
salvation ; 

That 's what he said and empty-handed gave. 
Martha. 

What ! Not a jewel, not a coin, 
A thing that any journeyman would try to 
spare, 

And as a keep-sake fondly wear, 

And sooner beg or starve than spend it ! 

Meph istopheles . 
Dear madam, in your grief I join. 
But then, whatever he spent, its use was well 
intended ; 

Upon his faults he looked with deep regret, 



80 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

And wailed o'er his misfortunes more sincerely 
yet. 
Margaret. 

Oh, wliy are men as unhappy as lie ! 
I shall not faL to say my prayers for him, un- 
wearied. 

Mephistopheles. 
You are so good I think you should be married. 
You do so sweet appear to me. 

Margaret. 

Oh, 't is too soon for that, you know, 
flephistopheles. 

If not a husband, well, try first a beau ! 
'T is certainly heaven's greatest blessing, 
Such a sweet thing to be caressing. 
Margaret. 

With us that 's not the custom quite. 

Mephistopheles. 
Custom or not, 't will come all right. 

Martha. 
Now tell me, please ! 

Mephistopheles. 
I saw, how sick he lay, and dying 
On rotten straw, or rather dung. 
But then he died a Christian, to his faith he 
clung. 

And thinking of his sins, he said with groans 
and sighing; 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 8 1 

"Thus, by a righteous fate I 'm overtaken; 
My dearest wife, my trade have I forsaken ; 
But to recall it, kills me nigh. 
Would, she forgave me yet this side of heaven ! " 

riartha. ( Weeping.) 
The dear, good man, I Ve long ago forgiven. 

riephistopheles. 
"Howe'er God knows, she 's more to blame 
than I." 

riartha. 

He lies, he! Why! So near his grave, still lying! 

Mephistopheles. 
He 'd surely lost his mind, while he lay dying; 
Indeed if I may judge, he had. 
Said he: "She never gave me time for idle leisure; 
The children wanted bread, she, bread and 

pleasure, 
Enough of it, to drive me mad. 
And never could I eat my share in peace, ay, 

never.' ' 
Martha. 

Had he forgotten thus of all my love and favor, 
Of all the toil by night and day ? 

Mephistopheles. 
For that, he 's dead and laid away. 
Were I now thus in your condition, 
I 'd mourn him one chaste year we '11 say, 



82 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

And find another dear fellow in the intermission. 
And I confess, it is but true, 
Myself would rings exchange with you. 
riartha. 

The gentleman seems fond of play. 

Mephistopheles. {Aside.) 
I think I 'd better get away ! 
She 'd take the very devil at his say. 

{Aloud.) 
Farewell, ye ladies! 

Margaret. 

Farewell ! 

Martha. 

Before you go, please quickly tell: 
Besides you, who did see or hear it, 
Where, how and w r hen my darling died and 

has been buried. 
I Ve always loved the strictest form and order; 
I 'd see his death announced in the Recorder. 

riephistopheles. 
Two witnesses are needed everywhere, 
The proof of fact and truth to bear. 
There 's a companion with me ; if you crave it, 
Of him I '11 get an affidavit. 
I '11 bring him here. 

Martha. 

I pray you, do! 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 83 

Mephistopheles. 
And then this maiden be here too! 
The gallant boy has traveled much ; 
He 's the ladies' friend, yon '11 find him such. 

The meeting thus arranged, takes place in 
Martha's garden. Margaret on Faust's arm 
and MarthaVith Mephistopheles promenading, 
are by turns overheard. 

MargaretT 

I feel, the gentleman but spares me so, 
To shame me with his gracious favor. 
All travelers thus will, I know, 
In kindness bear with others ever. 
Such an experienced man, I know too well, 
Cannot be entertained by aught I tell. 
Faust. 

One look from thee, one word more entertains 
Than all the wisdom man e'er gains. 

{He kisses her hand.) 

Margaret. 

Don't trouble thus yourself! Indeed, how can 

you kiss it? 
It is so common, is so gross. 
My work is hard, and never dare I miss it; 
For mother is so very close. 

( They pass on. Enter Martha and Mephisto- 
pheles^ 



84 a study of goethe's faust. 

Martha. 

And yon dear sir, yon always travel so? 

riephistopheles. 
Alas, that onr profession so intends it. 
'T is often sad to leave a place, and go; 
Bnt leave and go we mnst; that ends it. 

Martha. 

In yonth's fast years perhaps 't might do, 
Thns all aronnd the world to hnrry only. 
Bnt evil days are coming too; 
And to the grave one's single self to drag 

thns lonely, 
Will never do, won't do for yon. 

Mephistopheles. 
To think of it, fills me with terror. 

Martha. 

Then sir, betimes reflect, and mend yonr error! 

( They pass on. Enter Margaret and Faust}) 

Flargaret. 
Ay, ont of sight, is ont of mind! 
Politest speech yon '11 nse, if any ; 
Bnt friends with yon, are oft and many. 
More sensible ones than I, yon find. 

Faust. 

O dearest one, believe, what bears the name 

of sense, 
Is oft bnt vain and narrow sense. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 85 
Margaret. 

How so? 

Faust. 

Ah, that simplicity its worth can't know, 
Nor understand its holy innocence ! — 
You 're surely oft alone? 

flargaret. 
Indeed, the little house we own, 
Makes work for me, that must be done. 
We have no servant; I must cook, and early 
And late must sew and knit and stir. 
For oh, my mother is in all things verily 
Particular. 

Not that we really so much would need to save; 
We better could make show than others rather: 
Some property was left us by my father; 
A house and pretty lot near town we have. 
But then, my life has now become more quiet. 
My brother 's a soldier; 
My little sister 's dead. 

The child could be quite troublesome, I often 
said; 

But fain I 'd care for it again, I can't deny it: 
So dear a child was it. 
Faust. 

An angel, if like thee. 

Margaret. 

I nursed it; so 't became attached to me* 



86 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

'T was born, when we 'd but scarcely buried 
father; 

And yet 'tween life and death our mother 
Was lingering on ; so sick was she. 
And she recovered after that but gradually. 
What strength she had, she sorely needed; 
She could not nurse the babe or feed it. 
And so I raised it all alone 
On milk and water; 't was my own. 
Upon my lap, my arm it hung, 
And played and smiled, grew well and strong. 
Faust. 

No doubt, thou then enjoyedst the greatest 
blessing, 
riargaret. 

And yet, my duties oft were hard and pressing. 
At night, the baby's cradle stood 
Beside my bed, and did the least thing wake it, 
At once I would 

Get up and nurse it, in my bed then take it. 

And oft again I 'd take it up, 

And dandling back and forth, its crying stop. 

Yet every morn, I had to wash and mop. 

Then would I do the marketing and cooking, 

And after every thing be looking. 

My courage thus not always was the best; 

But after all, I relished food and rest. 



a study of goethe's faust. 87 

( They pass on. Enter Martha and Mephisto- 
pheles?) 
nartha. 

Poor woman's lot is very hard indeed; , 
A bachelor is scarce to be converted. 

riephistopheles. 
The kindness of yonr like, is all I 'd need, 
To mend my habit or desert it. 

Martha. 

Say trnly, did you no one yet discover? 
And did you nowhere bind yourself as lover? 

Mephistopheles. 
The saying is: "A home and hearth, 
An honest wife are golden treasures worth. " 

flartha. 

I mean, did ne'er desire of love impel you? 

riephistopheles. 
They 've everywhere politely treated me, I tell 
you. 

Martha. 

I mean, was ne'er your heart on earnest purpose 
resting? 

riephistopheles. 
With ladies, ne'erl 'dtake the liberty of jesting. 

nartha. 
Why, can't you see indeed? 

Mephistopheles. 

I 'm sorry I 'm so blind; 



88 a study of goethe's faust. 

Yet I can see that you are very kind. 

( They pass on. Enter Margaret and Faust.) 
Faust. 

My little angel, thou this evening knewst me, 
As soon as to the gate I came. 
Margaret. 

Did you not see, I blushed? You so confused me. 
Faust. 

No longer though, my forwardness dost blame, 
The freedom which I took that morning, 
As thou wentst by, from church returning, 
flargaret. 

I was surprised. What could your conduct mean? 
What in my manners could invite such daring? 
Why thought I, could in thy look, in thy bearing 
He any impropriety have seen ? 
It seemed as though a feeling seized him, 
To just approach the girl and do what pleased 
him. 

Yet something strange, y t is true I knew not 
what, 

Began at once to stir within me in your favor ; 

And with myself I was so angry, that 

With you I could indeed find fault no graver. 

Faust. 
Sweet darling !. 

Margaret. 

Let me see ! 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 89 

(She is picking the petals off a flower in her 
hand.) 
Faust. 

Let 's see the flower you have : 

Margaret. 

'T is just for play. 
Faust. 

What play? 

Margaret. 

Ah, you would laugh. 
(She picks off more petals and murmurs to 
herself.) 
Faust. 

What murmurst thou? 
Margaret. 

(Half aloud.) 

He loves me, loves me not, 
Loves me, not, loves me, not. 
(Plucking the last petal joyfully?) 

He loves me ! 

Faust. 

So he does ! and let this floral word 
Be heaven's own word for thee ! He loves thee! 
And knowst thou what it means: "He loves 
thee ?" (He takes hold of her hands?) 
riargaret. 
I 'm seized with fear. 



90 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST, 

Faust. 

Oh, do not fear ! But let my eye, 

The pressure of my hand assure thee 

Of that, which can't be named : 

To give one's self entire, and such a pleasure 

To feel, as forever must last, 

Ever ! Its end eternal despair would be. 

No ! No end ! Oh, never ! 

( They pass on. Enter Martha and Mephisto- 
pheles.) 

Martha. 
'T is getting late. 

Mephistopheles. 

Yes, it is time to stir. 

Martha. 

I'd gladly bid you stay here longer, 
If not so very bad a place this w r ere. 
Here, every one is but a gossip-monger. 
To watch his neighbor, 
Seems every body's only care and labor. 
They will speak of you ill, do whatsoe'er you 
may. 

But our young couple? 
flephistopheles. 

Off they 've flown, the path up, yonder. 
Frolicsome birds of summer! 
Martha. 

He likes her. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 91 
Mephistopheles. 

No wonder! 

And she likes him. Such is the world's old way. 

{Faust and Margaret approach?) 
I think 't is time to part. 

Martha. 

Yes sir, 't is late. 

Faust. ( To Margaret) 
May I attend yon, to your gate? 
Margaret. 

Nay! Mother would Farewell! 

Faust. 

Oh, must I then? 

Farewell ! 
riartha. 

Farewell ! 
Margaret. 

Till soon, we meet again ! 

{Martha sees Faust and Mephistopheles off) 

riargaret. {Alone) 
Oh dear, with what most wondrous thought 
The head of such a man is fraught! 
I stand ashamed, whatever he says, 
And unto every thing say "Yes." 
Poor, simple child I, do not see, 
What good he ever could find in me. 

By the fire of love, thus suddenly kindled, 



92 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Faust's feelings and thoughts are temporarily 
cleansed. In this condition he now turns to 
the subjects of his former ideal desire. In 
" Woods and Cavern," we find him communing 
with the Barth-Spirit. And the mysteries of 
nature and life, which once withstood his prying 
thought, now seem revealed to his happy heart. 
But this new enthusiasm is of short duration. 
It affords no permanent satisfaction and there- 
fore, no protection against the dangers toward 
which Faust is still steadily drawn through 
the wiles of Mephistopheles. The sentimental 
solution of life's problems is but a sorry delu- 
sion. With all the sympathy and pity which 
Faust feels for Margaret, the path of true, 
faithful love is soon abandoned. 

Faust. {In " Woods and Cavern"} 
Great Spirit, thou ! Thou gavest me all, thou 
gavest me 

Whatever I asked. Thou didst not turn thy face 

In vain on me in fiery apparition. 

Gavest me this grand and glorious nature for 

my realm, 
Power to feel it, to enjoy it. Not 
Cold, gazing visit only grantst thou me; 
Allowst me to look down its deepest breast, 
As in a dear and loving friend's own bosom. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 93 

Thou leadst the ranks of all the living ones 
Past by me here, and teachest me my kindred 
In quiet woods to know, in air and water. 
And when the storm in forests roars and creaks, 
The giant pine-tree breaks, and neighboring 
branches 

And neighboring tree-trunks crushing, hurls 
along, 

And falling wakes dull, hollow mountain- 
thunder, 

Then, to some cave secure thou leadst me, 
showst 

Me mine own self ; and in my very breast 
The deep and secret wonders open up. 
And when before my sight, the quiet moon 
With soothing light ascends, then rise and float 
Near me, from rocky mounts and dewy woods, 
The silvery forms of ages long gone by, 
And gently touch the joy of sterner thought. 
Oh, that man never can aught perfect own, 
I feel it now. With all this highest pleasure, 
Which brings me near and ever nearer thee, 
Thou this companion gavest me, whom I now 
No more can spare, though insolent and cold, 
He in myself degrades me, and to naught 
With one word's breath turns all thy richest 
bounty. 



94 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Within my breast, lie busily keeps stirring 
Impassioned longing for that image fair. 
Thus staggering toward enjoyment from desire, 
I languish with desire, amid enjoyment. 

flephistopheles. (Entering?) 
When wilt thou with this life be through? 
How canst thou but so long enjoy it? 
'T is well enough to taste of it ; but that will do. 
Then something else must do, or try it. 
In rocks and caverns here, how canst thou only 
Sit like a night-owl moping, lonely? 
Why suck thy food from dripping stone and 

mouldering moss, 
Just as a toad exactly does ? 
A sweet and pleasant pastime this ! 
The Doctor still within thee is. 

Faust. 

New power of life, beyond what thou canst see, 
This wandering in the desert gives to me. 
And if thou couldst conceive its measure, 
Thou ; wouldst be mean enough, to grudge me 
such a pleasure. 
Mephistopheles. 
Ay, pleasure drawn from highest fountains, 
In night and dew to lie upon the mountains, 
All earth and heaven so fervently embracing, 
One's self inflated to the Godhead tracing, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 95 

With yearning thought earth to the center 
cleaving, 

All the six days' work in one's bosom heaving! 
Yet after all, I 'd grudge thee not the pleasure 
Of lying to thyself in times of leisure. 
But now, thy sweetheart sits there brooding 
lonely; 

The world for her is close and dull. 
Her thought on thee is dwelling only; 
She loves thee quite beyond control. 
First, raged thy affection in violent fashion, 
As if in spring a brook overflows from melting 
snow. 

Then, in her heart thou pouredst thy passion; 
Now, is thy brooklet running low. 
Much better than in woods to be lording, 
Would it just now become your grace, 
The poor young monkey in distress 
For all her love to be rewarding. 
Her days so slowly drag along. 
Then, from her window she '11 the clouds espy 
Over the town-wall, as they pass by: 
" Would, that a bird I were!" Thus runneth 
her song, 

Half through night, and the day all long ; 
Now she 's happy, now again quite sad; 
Now she 's all in tears, 



g6 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S EAUST. 

Now again quiet appears, 
But always love-mad. 
Faust. 

Am I the outcast then, the all-offending, 
The monster with no aim and peace, 
That like the torrent-flood from rock to rock 
descending, 

With furious greed bounds towards the abyss? 
And she aside, with instincts self-subduing, 
Upon the Alpine field her cottage placed, 
All her domestic thought and doing 
Within that little world embraced. 
But I the god-detested, 
I was not content 
When rock from rock I wrested, 
And mounts to ruin rent. 
Her, ay her peace I must destroy forever! 
Such, Evil Spirit, such was thy endeavor! 
So help me then to end this time of terror ! 
At once be done what done must be! 
Upon my head let fall her fate and error! 
And let us perish, her and me ! 

Mephistopheles. 
Oh, how it burns again and glows ! 
Go in thou fool and comfort her! 
Where such a little head no outlet knows, 
It thinks at once the end is near. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 97 

Margaret in tlie meantime lias become very 
restless, as appears when we next see her, at 
the spinning-wheel in her room. 

Margaret. 

Oh, my peace is gone, 
My heart is sore ; 
I find it now never 
And nevermore. 

Where he tarries not, 
A grave 's the spot; 
The world and all 
Is bitter gall. 

My wretched head 
Is nigh out- worn; 
My wretched sense 
Is racked and torn. 

Oh, my peace is gone, 
My heart is sore ; 
I find it now never 
And nevermore. 

For him but gazing, 
I linger about; 
For him but seeking, 
I go out. 

His noble step, 
His figure borne high, 
And his lips' soft smiling, 



98 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

And the force of his eye, 

His conversation's 
Magic flow, 

His hand's fond touch, 
His kisses, oh ! 

Oh, my peace is gone, 
My heart is sore; 
I find it now never 
And nevermore. 

My bosom yearns 
To feel him near. 
Ah, could I clasp him 
And hold him here! 

And kiss him, oh, 
Kiss him would I ! 
Upon his kisses 
I fain would die! 
Margaret also has forebodings of her coming 
trouble. When she sees Faust again, her fears 
for his evil companion speak plainly out. 
Margaret. 

The man thou goest with everywhere, 
I loathe from deep and inmost soul, I declare. 
And naught in my life did ever 
My heart's tenderest ties so tear and sever, 
As the hateful face he has got. 
Faust. 

Darling, darling, fear him not ! 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 99 
Margaret. 

His mere presence moves my blood in distress. 
All men else I do love, I guess. 
But as mucli as I long to see thee, dearest, 
Horror fills my heart, when with him thou 
nearest. 

I 've taken, ay, for a knave him long. 
God forgive me, if I Ve done him wrong. 
Faust. 

There needs must be such fellows even, 
riargaret. 

Should not like his company, to live in. 
Every time he enters here, 
He so does with a grin and sneer, 
And half looks mad; 

It seems, as if he in nothing an interest had. 
'T is written on his brow and feature, 
He ne'er could love e'en a single creature. 
I feel so well within thy arm, 
So free, all given to thee, so warm ; 
And his mere presence so frightens and shuts 
my heart. 
Faust. 

Foreboding angel, that thou art ! 

riargaret. 
That so does chill me all o'er, 
That when he comes, though thou art near me, 



IOO A SfTUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

I even think, I love thee then no more. 

Nor could I ever pray where he could hear me. 

And that so eats the heart in me ; 

'T must, Henry, be the same with thee. 

The progress of Margaret's trouble and sor- 
row is soon more plainly told in her prayer at 
the image. 
Margaret. 

Bend hither, 
Thou suffering mother, 
Thy face benignly on my pain 

The sword is driven ; 
Thy heart is riven ; 
Thou lookst to where thy son was slain. 

And onward reaching, 
With sighs beseeching, 
Thou pleadst for his and thy own pain. 

Who guesses, 
How 't presses 
And pains within me now ? 
My poor heart here, how 't does quiver, 
What it fears and wishes ever, 
Knowst thou only, only thou ! 

Wherever I am going, 
How woe, how woe 't is growing 
Within my bosom, here ! 
Alone, aside I 'm creeping, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. ioi 

And weeping, weeping, weeping ; 

My heart nigh breaks with fear. 
The flowers before my window, 

With tears, as with dew I wet, 

When in the early morning 

These few I went to get. 
As in my room at dawning 

The snn his rays would shed, 

I sat, my fate bemoaning, 

Already in my bed. 

Help ! Save from death me, and disdain ! 

Bend hither, 

Thou suffering mother, 

Thy face benignly on my pain ! 
The next scene shows the tragic turn, which 
events are fast taking. Valentine, Margaret's 
brother, a soldier, has always prided himself 
upon his sister's innocence and modesty. Hence, 
he looks with disfavor on her newly made 
acquaintance. Rumors have reached his ear. 
He will know the facts. For this purpose he 
goes home. The night is dark. As he nears 
the house,, he sees the shadowy forms of two 
strangers, one with guitar in hand serenading 
Margaret. No further investigation is needed. 
A few words pass. Swords are out. Faust 
and Valentine have an encounter. The latter 



102 A STUDY OF GOETHK'S FAUST. 

is mortally wounded. Faust and Mephisto- 
pheles hasten from the scene. The neighbor- 
hood is soon aroused. People gather. Among 
them is grief-stricken Margaret. Valentine 
dies. In his dying words he pours all the 
bitterness of his soul upon his poor sister and 
leaves her behind, with the crushing weight 
of guilt thrust upon her. Margaret's troubles, 
thus superadded by the reproach and curse of 
her dying brother, soon accomplish her intel- 
lectual ruin. At the first weakening of her 
mind, her sentiment and w T ill turn in an un- 
natural direction. Presently, we notice her 
guilt and despair and the forebodings of her 
final insanity, as pictured in the allegory of 
the cathedral scene. In the same cathedral, 
from which once returning she was first met 
by Faust, she is now pursued by the Evil 
Spirit. It is high mass. The organ plays. 
The choir chants. There are worshipers, 
bowed in deep devotion. And here is Margaret, 
the Evil Spirit whispering to her. 
Evil Spirit. 

How different Margaret was it, 

When, still innocent, thou 

To the altar earnest 

And from the much-worn little book 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST, 

Thy prayers didst wliisper ; 
Of children's plays half, 
Of God half thinking! 
Margaret ! 

Where is thy head? 
Within thy heart, oh, 
What a crime is there! 
Margaret. 
Woe! Woe! 

Were I of these thoughts but free, 

Which ever here and there are going 

'Gainst me all. 
Chorus. 

Dies irae, dies ilia 

Solvet saeclum in favilla. 
{Organ plays}} 
Evil Spirit. 

Wrath holds thee ! 

Ay, the trumpet sounds ! 

The graves all tremble! 

And thy heart 

From ashes here 

To burning torments 

Once again created, 

Starts up. 
Margaret. 

Were I away ! 



io4 a study of goethe's faust. 

I feel as if the organ here 
The breath in me stifles, 
The chant my heart 
Most deeply solving. 
Chorus. 

Judex ergo cnm sedebit, 
Qnidqnid latet, adparebit, 
Nil inultum remanebit. 
Margaret. 

I feel oppressed! 
The massy pillars 
Would prison me, 
And the arches 
Crush me. — Air! 
Evil Spirit. 

Ay, hide thee ! Sin and shame though, 
Remain not hidden. 
Air? Light? 
Woe 's thee! 
Chorus. 

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus, 
Quern patronum rogaturus, 
Cum vix justus sit securus? 
Evil Spirit. 

Their gentle faces 

The blessed from thee turn ; 

The pure, no hands extending, 



A STUDY OF GOETHE^ S FAUST* 105 

Shun and abhor thee. 
Woe! 
Chorus. 

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus ? 

Unable longer to bear up under these tor- 
ments of the soul, Margaret swoons. After 
this scene, we see her but once again, when she 
is in the dungeon, raving with madness. 
Thither, Faust and Mephistopheles shall guide 
our steps. These two then, we must next look 
for. They were last seen at the fatal encounter 
with Valentine. Thence they fled. We now 
find them at the fantastic revelry of the 
Walpurgis-Night. The scene is in the 
Hartz-Mountains, on and around the Brocken, 
the classic field of the German romance of 
witches and spook. It is the night of the 30th 
of April, the great witch-night. The air is 
murky, and the dull moon rises slowly. But 
dimly seen, above and beneath, are forests and 
mountains with foaming waters dashing over 
erratic rocks, and gigantic roots like serpents 
winding through sand and stone. Flocks of 
hideous night-birds and swarms of fire-flies, 
flit and float through the air. A storm rises. 

A mist so bedarkens the night. 
Hear the tempest the forest smite ! 



xo6 a study of goethe's faust. 

Frightened-up owlets are flitting. 
Hear tlie columns now splitting, 
B'ergreen palaces breaking, 
Branches whirring and quaking, 
The tree-trunks mightily groaning, 
The roots upriven and moaning ! 
With fearful, irresistible hurry, 
Powers chaotic all of it bury. 
And through the barricaded abysses 
Rushes the tempest and hisses. 
Voices hear in regions higher ! 
Now they 're far and now are nigher. 
All this mountain-chain along 
Flows a magic, infuriated song. 

It is the train of the witches. They are 
going to the top of the Brocken, where Satan 
holds forth. Then the storm subsides : 

The wind is hushed, the stars take flight; 
The dreary moon conceals her light. 
Still onward whirls the magic choir, 
And scatters thousand sparklets of fire. 

To this grand wilderness, where force and 
destruction mark the scenery, and where a 
carnival of folly and sin is now enacted, Me- 
phistopheles has taken Faust to divert his 
thought from recent, most dreadful events. 
Faust at first appears free from mental distress. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S EAUST. 107 

He desires to have a free view of these nightly 
realms and to meet the very prototype of evil, 
face to face : 

I 'd rather be on yonder height; 
There throngs a crowd around the evil, 
And many secrets they unravel. 

Mephistoph^les does not favor such a scien- 
tific course. He believes in practical excitement 
as the better means to prevent the mind from 
brooding over the past. He therefore leads 
Faust to the dance of the witches. And 
impelled by a desire to drown remorse, the latter 
is soon involved in a whirl of maddest pleasure. 
But here, his moral crisis sets in ; and we notice 
a change to the better. Among all the sense-con- 
founding sights which surround him, he 
suddenly sees far off a lone child, pale'but fair, 
whose drooping form moves slowly, as with 
shackled feet. It is the image of Margaret, 
and her most piteous look. Thus from the 
wild dreams of the Walpurgis-Night, Faust 
suddenly awakes into the day-light of sober 
reality. The news of Margaret's misery has 
reached him. He is stricken with remorse. He 
will hurry to her and save her. We see him 
on the way. It is night. Faust and Mephisto- 
pheles on black horses, are dashing across an 



108 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

open field. Horrid pictures pass before Faust's 
mind. 
Faust. 

What 's doing yonder, near the raven-stone? 
Mephistopheles. 

Know not, what they are brewing and cooking. 
Faust. 

Up they float, down they float, bending now, 
tending now. 
Mephistopheles. 

They 're a witch's pack. 
Faust. 

They 're bowing; they 're vowing, 
flephistopheles. 

Come on! Come on! 

{They arrive at the dungeon. Mephistophe- 
les withdraws^) 

Faust. 

{With a lamp and bunch of keys ) before 
prison-door^) 

I feel a long unwonted horror, 

Feel all the human woe upon me bear. 

The dreary, damp enclosures here immure her; 

And all her fault was a delusion fair. 

And still delayst thou to face her; 

Thou tremblest, again to embrace her. 

On! Thy hesitating is her despair. 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 109 

{He seizes the lock. Singing within^) 
She guesses not, her lover bends his ear, 
The clanking chains, the rustling straw to hear. 

{He enters?) 

Margaret. 

{Hiding her face in the bed of straw.) 
Woe! Woe! They Ve come. Oh, bitter death ! 

Faust. {Softly.) 
Hush ! Hush ! I '11 rescue thee ; do not fear me. 

riargaret, {Throwing herself at his feet.) 
Art thou a man, then feel for my distress. 

Faust. 

Thou 'It wake the jailer with thy crying. Hear 
me ! 

{He seizes the chains, to unlock them.) 

riargaret. {On her knees.) 
Who to thee headsman such a power 
Over me has given ? 
Why take me at this midnight-hour ? 
Oh spare me, in the name of heaven ! 
Is it, till morn to wait, too long ? 

{She rises.) 
And yet indeed so young, so young ! 
Must die however. 

Fair was I too, and that was my ill favor. 

My love now far, then was he nigh ; 

The wreath is torn, the flowers scattered lie. 



IIO A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 
L,ay not so cruel thy hand on me ! 
Spare me, oh ! What have I done to thee ? 
lyet me not in vain endeavor ! 
All in my life I never saw thee, never. 
Faust. 

Shall I outlive this sorrow ever? 
Margaret. 

Now in thy power am I quite. 

But let me nurse the babe ! Believe me, 

I have caressed it all this night. 

They Ve taken it away, to grieve me.; 

And now, I Ve murdered it, they say for spite. 

And nevermore I shall be glad. 

They sing a song, oh, so wicked ! And at me 

they throw it. 
An olden story ends so sad. 
Who made them know it? 

Faust. [On his knees}) 
A lover here kneels, to implore thee; 
From misery's bonds he would restore thee. 

riargaret, {Kneeling beside him.) 
Kneel with me then, the saints in voke'in heaven. 
Oh, how the earth is riven, 
Thresholds upheaving, 
Hell itself cleaving! 
So rages 

The evil one. Fearful 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. Ill 

War he thus wages. 

Faust. [Aloud) 
Margaret ! Margaret ! 

Margaret. {L is ten ing. ) 
His voice, so true and cheerful ! 

{She rises quickly \ her chains fall off) 
Where is he? I heard him call me, plainly. 
I am free! They '11 prevent me vainly. 
I '11 to him fly, will embrace him, 
Will to my bosom press him. 
Margaret, called from the threshold he yonder; 
Plainly I heard it through hell's fearful thunder; 
Through the scorn and the wrath of all hell, 
That sweetest and loveliest tone could I tell. 

Faust. 

'T is I! 

Margaret. 

'T is thou! Oh, say it but again! 
{Clasping him) 
'T is he! 'T is he! Where now is all my pain, 
The pain of prison-chains that enslave me! 
'T is thou ! Thou comest to save me. 
And thou hast saved me. 
Already now the street I see, 
Where first I met thee and thou spokest to me ; 
And the garden and gate, 
Where I and Martha thee await. 



112 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

Faust. ( Tryingto drag her along.) 
Come with me, come! 

Margaret. 

Oh, tarry! 
Tarry would I e'er, where thou tarriest 

{Caressing htm.) 

Faust. 
Hurry ! 

If thou not hurriest, 
Painfully both of us will rue it. 
Margaret. 

Kiss me ! Canst no more do it ? 

My friend, from me but shortly turned, 

And hast kissing unlearned? 

Wherefore seizes me such a fear at thy breast? 

Ere this, when we were looking at another, 

I felt with heavenly delight all blest, 

And thou didst kiss me, with kisses me nigh 

wouldst smother. 
Kiss thou me, 
Else, I kiss thee. 

{She embraces htm.) 
Oh pity! Thy lips are so cold, 
So still. 

Thy love, I miss it; 

Where is it ? 

Who made it grow chill? 



A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 113 

{She turns from him.) 
Faust. 

Come, follow me! Darling, pray be bold ! 
I '11 cherish thee with fervor thousandfold. 
But follow me! To this one prayer give heed! 

JTIargaret. {Turning to htm.) 
Is it then thou ? And is it thou, indeed ? 

Faust. 

'Tis I! Oh come! 

riargaret. 
Thou breakst my bonds in twain, 
Takest to thy bosom me again. 
How is it thou art not afraid of me ? 
And dost thou know, my friend, whom thou 

makest free ? 
Give me thy hand ! Oh, it is wet ! 
Wipe it! Methinks, there is yet 
Some blood thereon. 
Oh God ! What wrong hast thou done ! 
Pray thee, put up the sword ! 
I beg it of thee ! 

Faust. 

Mention not that which is past ; each word 
Is death to me. 

Margaret. 
Not toward death must hurry; 
But see, how they each of us bury. 



114 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

In duty and sorrow, 
To-morrow : 

The best of tlie places give mother ; 
Next beside her, please lay my brother; 
Me, some distance away, 
Not too far, I pray ! 

To the right of my breast the little one lay ! 
No one else will near me slumber. 
Still thy fond embrace I remember ; 
That was the sweetest and purest bliss ! 
Ah but no longer can I enjoy it ; 
I feel 't is forced, whensoever I try it, 
As were I repelled ; and so it is. 
And yet, thou lookst so good, so true ; J t is thou ! 
Faust. 

Feelst thou 't is I, then follow now. 

Margaret. 
Follow? Where? 

Faust. 
Out yonder. 

Margaret. 
Is the grave there, 
Lingers there death, then come ! 
From here to ever-enduring rest. 
And further not ! No ! No I 
Thou goest away ? Oh Henry, could I go ! 

Faust. 

Thou canst, if but thou wilt. The door is open. 



a study of goethe's faust. 115 

Margaret. 

I dare not go ; there 's naught I 've any hope 
in. 

What use, to fly ? They '11 lie for me in wait. 
It is so sad to have to go begging. 
More so, when sins your conscience are plagu- 
ing. 

It is so sad to roam, by all forsaken. 
And I 'd surely be soon overtaken. 
Faust. 

I shall not leave thee. 
Margaret. 

Oh quick, be quick ! 

Save thy poor child, be quick ! 

There, keep to the edge, 

The brook along, 

Over the bridge, 

In the woods, far oif , 

Toward the left, near the plank, 

In the pond ! 

Take it but quick ! 

There, there it rises, 

It struggles still. 

Save it ! Save it ! 

Faust. 
Collect but thy will I 
A single step, and thou art free. 



n6 A study of goethe's faust. ; 
flargaret. 

Were I but past the liill with thee ! 
There sits my poor mother upon a stone. 
Oh, from this chill restore me ! 
There sits my poor mother upon a stone. 
She sways her head before me. 
She beckons not, nods not ; her head is so sore, 
She slept so long ; she will wake no more. 
Faust. 

If here avails nor prayer nor reason, 
I '11 carry thee away from prison. 
Jlargaret. 

Leave me ! Nay, to force I never shall yield. 
Seize me not now so murderously ! 
Else every thing I Ve done out of love for thee. 
Faust. 

The day dawns. Darling ! Darling ! 
Margaret. 

Day ! Yes, day does dawn. My final day 

now sets in. 
My wedding day 't should have been. 
Tell no one, that thou yet with Margaret wast. 
Woe, wreath and flower ! 
It is done ! Be it thenj 
And soon we shall meet again, 
Not in festal hour. 

The crowd is pressing, they speak no word. 



a study of goethe's faust. 117 

In public places 
Scarce sufficient space is. 
The staff now breaks, the knell is beard. 
Ob, tbey bave seized me, bave bound me ! 
I 'm put upon tbe bloody rack ; 
And every one around me 
Now feels tbe blade tbat cuts my neck. 
Silent as deatb, lies tbe world. 
Faust. 

Ne'er to be born, were better. 

Mephistopheles. {Appearing outside?) 
Quick, hurry ! You can not get ber. 
Useless is talk and timid delaying. 
Hear tbe borses neighing ! 
J T is near the dawn of morn. 

Margaret. 

What >s that, from the ground there up-borne? 
He ! He ! Bear him not ! 
What will he on this holy spot? 
He wants me! 

Faust. 
I will save thee ! 

Margaret. 

Divine j udgment on high ! My spirit I gave thee. 

Mephistopheles. ( To Faust?) 
Come! Come! Or I will leave her here and 
thee. 



Il8 A STUDY OF GOETHE'S FAUST. 

riargaret. 
Thine am I, father! Rescue me ! 
Ye angels, ye heavenly army 
Camp around me, that nothing may harm me 
Henry, I shrink from thee ! 

riephistopheles. 
This is her judgment. 

A Voice. {From above.) 
Is her salvation. 

Mephistopheles. ( To Faust.) 
Follow me ! 

{Disappears with Faust.) 

A Voice. {From within, dying away ) 
Henry ! Henry ! 



EP. -8 1S47 



A 

STUDY 
OETHH'S pAUST 

BY 

$AY EliBl^G 



COIiU^BOS, OHIO 
ADOliF HARK, PUBLiISHHH 



